Clemson Gets Huge Boost as Top Defensive End Commits

Clemson Gets Huge Boost as Top Defensive End Commits
Jojo Doria

Clemson, SC

Clemson is expected to have one of the best recruiting seasons of any school in the country with Roberto Nkemdiche, the nation's unanimous No. 1 prospect, committing to play football with the Tigers.

Nkemdiche's stunning verbal pledge came in the middle of an unofficial visit to the ACC program.

It is a huge acquisition for Clemson, which not only landed the versatile defensive end Nkemdiche of Grayson High in Loganville, Ga., but the commitment bolsters the Tigers bid to build their 2013 class.

The 6'4", 270-pound Nkemdiche, regarded as a beast at the defensive end position, though he can play nearly any position, also reportedly considered Georgia, LSU, Mississippi and Alabama.

The commitment to Clemson of two of his teammates may have been a deciding factor in Nkemdiche's decision to head to the South Carolina school.

A day earlier, defensive back David Kamara, a close friend of Nkemdiche, became the second player to commit to Clemson from Grayson. Tail back Wayne Gallman, another Grayson standout, committed to the Tiger's program earlier this spring.

Incidentally, Clemson coach Dabo Swinney is a former college teammate and road roommate of Mickey Conn, Nkemdiche's coach at Grayson. Swinney and Conn were teammates at Alabama.

With his athleticism, his ability to get off the ball at a blistering pace and cover several ground from sideline-to-sideline, Nkemdiche registered 78 tackles, 36 tackles for a loss and 18 sacks during his junior season, according to Scout.com profile.

He also ran for 528 yards and scored 17 TD at running back as a junior for the Class 5A state champion Rams.