Clemson has some scholarships it did not have earlier in the recruiting season available for Wednesday due to departures for one reason or another. That prompted the Tigers to make another run at LB Dax Hollifield of Shelby, NC. But, it may be too late.
Clemson was Hollifield's first offer after seeing him in summer camps, but with commitments from linebackers Mike Jones Jr. and Jake Venables, the Tigers moved on, as did Hollifield whose focus became Virginia Tech, Stanford and North Carolina.
Clemson defensive coordinator and linebackers coach Brent Venables did visit the school last week. And Hollifield did make a quick trip to Clemson last week, but that was to visit his close friend KJ Henry and others for a birthday party. He arrived around 9:00 PM and left first thing in the morning and did not meet with coaches. And his mother did make a visit to the school Friday for a tour.
Yet, his father and basketball coach Aubrey Hollifield remains skeptical about the Tigers' chances.
"I think he likes the things they've got there but to tell you the truth I would be very shocked if he went there," the dad said. "I find it hard to believe anybody could outweigh (Virginia Tech DC) Bud Foster in my opinion. I know Coach Venables is a good coach but he's not Bud Foster."
Coach Hollifield said Stanford is strongly appealing to his son because of the academics but the distance is a concern. And Foster is a strong sell for Virginia Tech. Those two would appear to be the leaders but he's still not clear on what his son will do.
'I don't know," he said. "I keep asking him what we are going to do and he says, 'I really don't know dad. I'm trying to wade thru it.' I don't know."
Dabo Swinney has been on the phone with Dax according to his father.
Coach Hollifield said the tentative plan is for his son to make his decision Tuesday and let him know and then announce his choice at 11:00 AM on Wednesday at the school.