2017 National Signing Day: Clemson Signs AJ Terrell to Letter of Intent

Clemson has brought in a potential replacement for Cordrea Tankersley with the announcement that AJ Terrell has signed his Letter of Intent. From Westlake, GA, Terrell is listed at 6’2” and weighs 180 lbs. He’s considered a 4 star recruit by the 247 Composite though his ranking has varied among the recruiting services with some considering him a 5 star talent. His primary recruiter is Mike Reed. The main competition for Clemson with Terrell was Florida, though South Carolina did get a courtesy look because of their coaching staff.

Looking at Terrell’s play, there has been a lot of comparison to former FSU man Jalen Ramsey. Because of his size he could play CB or S, but with Clemson’s current roster he seems likely to start at corner. With his speed and athleticism he should stick there. Because of his talent as well as Clemson’s current CB roster, it is possible Terrell sees the field early and often, but as always we will have to see what he looks like in Fall Camp.

QT’s Take

Terrell is the gem of the defensive class. He has the length and athleticism to play multiple positions and is the most likely early contributor for Clemson on defense next season. Very unlikely that he will redshirt. Clemson will need tall corners.

AJ is what you crave in modern college football, and football at any level. His size means you can jam at the line with press coverage and come up to defend the run. He gives Brent Venables scheme versatility. AJ is a smooth athlete and will need to keep refining his technique, but he is a hard worker. At Westlake he carried his team and played both sides of the ball. An absolute steal on the recruiting trail, wasn’t seriously considering Clemson, but we were able to get him on campus and he quickly turned to Clemson. He is the composite number 55 player overall, but I agree with the services that have him higher as a 5*.