Clemson loses Mackey, thanks to Beamer

by DrB on Feb 2, 2009 2:21 PM EST in Recruiting

Gamecock Central reported first that Clemson DE commitment Leon Mackey (4-star) switched his commitment to Sakerlina over the weekend, then it was published in The State by Korncoot.

He committed to Clemson in early January, but according to a source, Mackey was never denied admission to Virginia Tech and was never given a release from his national letter. The Hokies would not release him to sign with another ACC school.

If he'd been a JUCO player, the rule is different. Prep schools are essentially HS-extended and his original LOI applies. What Korncoot does not acknowledge is that Shane Beamer, Frank's son, is the Recruiting Coordinator at Sakerlina. I don't know if anyone on the Clemson staff is to be blamed for this, and Beamer is, at the least, underhanded at applying it. Its not the first time he's done so. It looks to me that he is either holding him to his original LOI because the kid didnt want to come to VT after his signature was faxed in, or Frank tried to grayshirt him. The main reason we got Mackey seems to be that we offered January enrollment, which one of the others would do.

Sakerlina will oversign, as usual, and deny admittance/grayshirt several players.

-Linebacker Roderic Blunt of Miramar, Fla., the son of former Clemson running back Rodney Blunt, committed to Middle Tennessee State. Clemson never offered him.

-Summerville QB Don McElveen and K Chandler Catanzaro will be given preferred walk-on status next year and both say they're coming to Clemson.

-DE Darrell Smith was offered (because DS knew we were losing Mackey) over the weekend and will decide between us and Troy.

-Former commitment Markish Jones is now at Cal.

Both Tennessee (17) and Auburn (19) are ranked ahead of us in recruiting, both with more signees than we have. Take that however you like.

As of Sunday afternoon, its over, and we're in a recruiting dead period.

Other stuff...

Basketball is ranked #10 in the Coaches' Poll this week.

Another baseball preview article is up. Clemson has been ranked as high as #19 in preseason polls, but most fall around #26.

Columbia claims another athlete.

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Comments

How could Dabo not know of this freaky rule?

by Rob on Feb 2, 2009 10:06 PM EST reply actions

Essentially Hargrave Military Academy never sent in his transcript a year ago. He was never actually deemed or declared a non-qualifier and was and has been still held to the LOI he was binded to with Virginia Tech. Not until only a few days ago did he get a release from that LOI. That happened Friday.

Clemson's staff got its compliance dept. involved, as well as Terry Don Phillips. TDP had correspondence with Virginia Tech's AD on this last Friday, we're told. Initially when this issue/rule was brought to compliance/TDP, we're told they weren't even aware of this.

the ACC is treating him like a transfer. Since the LOI was never broken, the ACC says he must lose one year of eligibility if he remains in the conference and signs with a school other than Clemson. He could still come to Clemson, but would lose a year of eligibility and have to sit out the first year, as it stands today. Anywhere else he'd have five years to play four.

by cutigers73 on Feb 2, 2009 11:44 PM EST reply actions

Mackey since has had to enroll at a JUCO because he couldnt get in SC.

Ben Axon also tried and failed getting in, and went to Eastern Michigan instead after his weapons charge.

by DrB on Aug 27, 2009 9:51 PM EDT reply actions