With 4 commit dates looming, where does Clemson football stand with 2023 recruits?
Clemson football should get further clarity on its 2023 recruiting efforts over the next two weeks, with four offered targets scheduled to announce commitments.
Here’s a primer on all four players and their chances of joining the Tigers’ 2023 class, which included 17 players and was ranked fifth in the country as of Wednesday. (All times are Eastern.)
Markee Anderson
The skinny: 4-star OL; 6-foot-4.5, 305 pounds; Dorman (S.C.) High School
Commit date: Sunday, July 31, 3 p.m.
Anderson, the No. 136 recruit in the country, will announce between Clemson, LSU, South Carolina and UNC after officially visiting all four schools in June. Though he’s not at 100%, he has a “clear idea” of where he wants to go, he said earlier this week.
Anderson said he’s still talking with coaches from all four schools; that includes Clemson once or twice a week. All signs point to the Gamecocks winning out, though. South Carolina is the heavy favorite for Anderson on 247Sports and On3 Sports.
Hunter Osborne
The skinny: 4-star DL; 6-3, 260; Hewitt-Trussville (Ala.) High School
Commit date: Monday, Aug. 1, 7 p.m.
No. 130 recruit Osborne was on campus for Clemson’s massive June 3-5 official visit weekend, which ultimately led to pledges from defensive line recruits Peter Woods, Vic Burley, Stephiylan Green and AJ Hoffler. Will he join them? It’s tough to say.
Clemson’s in a battle with finalists Alabama, Tennessee and Texas, all of whom got June official visits and are “great programs,” per Osborne. On3 projects Alabama as a 92.5% favorite, while Osborne’s sole 247Sports Crystal Ball also predicts Alabama.
Connor Lew
The skinny: 3-star OL; 6-3, 280; Kennesaw Mountain (Ga.) High School
Commit date: Friday, Aug. 5, 10 a.m.
In terms of offensive line, Clemson has 2023 commitments from two tackles (Zechariah Owens and Ian Reed) and one guard (Harris Sewell) but lacks a center. That’s a hole that Lew could fill. Though he doesn’t rank highly on the 247Sports Composite (No. 614 overall), Power Five schools hold him in high regard.
Lew will announce between Auburn, Clemson, Georgia and Miami after officially visiting all four schools, and experts are more up in the air on his status. Lew has no Crystal Ball predictions, and On3 Sports has Georgia (27.2%) and Auburn (23.8%) as his most likely landing spots with Miami (14.7%) and Clemson (9.8%) trailing.
Shelton Lewis
The skinny: 3-star CB; 5-11, 180; Stockbridge (Ga.) High School
Commit date: Monday, Aug. 8, time TBA
Lewis, new to Clemson’s radar after decommitting from Pittsburgh in late June, attended the program’s All In Cookout on Monday and announced a scholarship offer later that night. His experience quickly elevated Clemson to finalist status, Lewis told 247Sports.
The cornerback will now announce between Clemson and UNC in early August, with the Tar Heels holding his sole Crystal Ball prediction to date. Offering Lewis, the No. 987 recruit in the class, indicates Clemson’s hopes for a third cornerback commit in its 2023 class alongside four-stars Avieon Terrell and Branden Strozier.
This story was originally published July 28, 2022 at 6:30 AM with the headline "With 4 commit dates looming, where does Clemson football stand with 2023 recruits?."
