Linemen bolster Tiger's class
Clemson coach Dabo Swinney, in his first full year, continued his effective recruiting with the addition of three coveted recruits.
Two Hargrave Military Academy linemen - defensive tackle Laurence Gibson and offensive guard Josh Watson - have dramatically strengthened the Tigers' 2010 recruiting class with their commitments after visiting Clemson last weekend.
The Tigers also landed one of the better in-state players in the Class of 2011, offensive tackle Shaq Anthony of Wren High in Piedmont.
While Watson was already a known quantity, Clemson and everyone else were impressed with Gibson at Hargrave's winter combine, and the offers poured in. Gibson measured 6-foot-6 and 296 pounds and ran a 4.77-second 40-yard dash. He bench-pressed 225 pounds 23 times. He picked Clemson over offers from Virginia Tech and Auburn. Georgia, Mississippi State, Syracuse and Utah all made offers after seeing him at the combine.
Watson, already highly touted, cancelled his last official visit - scheduled for North Carolina this weekend - after the Clemson trip. He's 6-5 and 260 pounds, and will likely play defensive tackle at Clemson. Watson had already visited Boston College and Duke, and also had offers from Florida State, Virginia, West Virginia and Michigan State.
Anthony, who is 6-41âÑ2 and 260 pounds, also had early offers from South Carolina, Georgia, East Carolina and Duke.
"He grew up in a Clemson home; both of his parents are Clemson graduates," said his coach, Jeff Tate. "He's been to camp there several times, and he knows several people who played there."
That includes his dad, Vernie Anthony, a defensive lineman on the 1981 national championship team, and a brother who currently attends the school.
Clemson has 20 commitments for 2010 and five for 2011.