As one of the nation’s top running backs in the Class of 2013 proved Wednesday, a verbal commitment literally means nothing until pen is put to LOI paper in February.
That said, Clemson just landed a huge verbal “nothing”.
As first reported by TigersIllustrated.comand later confirmed by multiple recruiting websites, five-star defensive end Robert Nkemdiche gave his nonbinding verbal commitment Thursday to Dabo Swinney‘s Tigers (So much for the Big 12 talk impacting their efforts on the recruiting trail, eh?). Two of Nkemdiche’s high school teammates have already committed to the Tigers, but the move is nonetheless surprising in both its timing and the school selected.
Back in early May, and roughly 10 days before a scheduled announcement was set to take place, the Loganville (Ga.) senior-to-be bid an about-face by stating that he would be delaying his decision so he could focus on his final season of high school ball.
“I’m probably going to try to take all my official visits, and then pick the best school,” Nkemdiche said over a month ago. “I probably won’t take any visits during the season because I want to stay focused on my main goal — and that’s helping our team win another state championship. I’ll probably wait until after the season and then go visit schools and stuff.”
At the time of that announcement, Clemson wasn’t even considered one of the front-runners. That honor fell to Alabama and Ole Miss -- his brother, redshirt freshman defensive back Denzel Nkemdiche, plays for the Rebels -- with Clemson, Georgia and LSU perceived to be perhaps a step below those two SEC programs on the 6-5, 250-pounder’s collegiate to-do list.
Rivals.com… and 247Sports.com… and Scout.com all have Nkemdiche as the top-rated prospect in the Class of 2013.
The only problem for Swinney and his coaching staff in landing the consensus No. 1-rated player in the nation? They have to hold on to Nkemdiche’s verbal for nearly eight months by fending off the likes of, among others, Nick Saban.
Good luck with that, Dabo.
(Photo credit: Loganville Grayson (Ga.) High School)