:format(webp)/cdn.vox-cdn.com/uploads/chorus_image/image/45621148/14526136090_086893ea53_o.0.0.jpg)
Clemson has continued replenishing the defensive line with the news that WDE Clelin Ferrell has signed a letter of intent with the Tigers. Ferrell, from Richmond, VA, is a 6'5" 225 pound man child with a 4.7 40 time. It may not be as fast as some of his fellow class mates, but it will certainly do on the DL.
Ferrell was recruited by Brent Venables with Marion Hobby backing him up and he had offers from Boston College, Eastern Carolina, Florida, and Charlotte with South Carolina also interested in his services. If you will recall Ferrell was an under the radar guy for the longest time before committing to Clemson this past summer.
The current projection is for Ferrell to fill a role similar to former Clemson player Andre Branch, but the big key here will be adding weight, ideally another 20-40 pounds of muscle. If Ferrell can do that he can easily become a star at Clemson.
QT's Take: Clelin is the forgotten man on the defensive side of the ball. His ACL injury pushed him down recruiting rankings a bit because he wasn't able to go out and perform. The injury will also delay his ability to contribute next season. He will need time to regain strength and add the necessary weight so a redshirt is likely. DE is a huge need in the coming seasons so he is a really important player in the overall health of our defense. For too many years we have been missing out on this type of high end defensive end talent.
Possesses the desired length and wingspan to play WDE at 6'5. With that height comes the challenge of playing with good leverage and bend. He has the tendency to play a bit high and is beating guys with athleticism and free releases to the ball carrier. Competition level isn't as high as in other areas and his technique will need to be refined. This is further evidence that going into VA is a much better idea than going into LA or Alabama (time spent in LA was just wasted time this year). We can go into the state and lock down a high quality talent all the way to signing day. Coach Hobby and Venables share credit here--Hobby offered early as a Sophomore and Venables carried the day. I'm excited about Ferrell--top 100 player in my book.