re: Official 2018 Recruiting Thread

So we now have to fight off every team in the CFP. Sweet.

(Oklahoma because they were the original mistress)

From the Clemson 247 site:

"2. I think Alabama is still pursuing about seven defensive backs for two spots.

And the crossover with Clemson is five-star cornerback Pat Surtain Jr. and four-star safety Leon O'Neal.

— LSU views Alabama as its biggest competition for Surtain, and vice versa applies.

Not exactly what you wanted to hear, I know, but regardless of how well this past weekend's official visit to Clemson went, the Tigers were still gonna be facing an uphill battle.

The Fort Lauderdale (Fla.) American Heritage top-ranked corner will welcome Miami head coach Mark Right in-home on Wednesday and Swinney in-home on Thursday.

Surtain is tentatively expected to visit Miami this weekend.

Nick Saban went in-home last week, and Ed Orgeron may wait until Friday to conduct his.

— Clemson247 learned earlier today that Saban is now interested in meeting with O'Neal on Tuesday to see if luring the Cypress (Texas) Cy Springs product to campus this upcoming weekend has potential.

If Saban makes the trip to Texas, it's possible he'll be accompanied by new assistant Jeff Banks, who originally helped recruit O'Neal to A&M as a member of Kevin Sumlin's staff.

With how many late developments have occurred in this recruitment, it wouldn't be surprising to see O'Neal opt to take his final official to Tuscaloosa.

However, I still think this recruitment comes down to Clemson and A&M in the end.

A source informed Clemson247 that Swinney met with O'Neal and his trainer after school today. Unsure if his parents were present.

That was sandwiched between A&M defensive coordinator Mike Elko visiting O'Neal at school and reportedly going in-home later in the evening although I haven't 100 percent confirmed that the return visit by Elko actually took place.

Good news for Clemson: No commitment video dropped this evening, and a Monday evening commitment announcement is what I reported earlier today as what A&M wanted to happen.

More good news that I reported: His parents would be A-OK if Clemson was the pick. Maybe even pleased.

Schools are allotted only one in-home visit per prospect per week, and this weekend marks the start of the quiet period (no in-homes).

So with Clemson and A&M both being done for good regarding visits, I wish I could say "let the chips fall where they may," but there have been too many twists and turns to guarantee there won't be any new unforeseen developments.

And you know it's getting real when A&M calls upon Johnny Manziel to tweet at O'Neal. "