2019 Clemson Football Recruiting: 2019 OLB Keith Maguire Signs Letter of Intent with Tigers

Keith Maguire out of Malvern Prep in Malvern Pennsylvania signed with the Tigers today. The three star OLB has a 247 Composite rating of 0.8850 and ranks him as the 25th best OLB prospect in the country, and the 6th best out of the state of Pennsylvania.

Brent Venables led the charge for Clemson in his recruitment, as he chose the Tigers over offers from the likes of Ohio St, Alabama, UNC, and Notre Dame, which were the Tigers biggest competition in this one.

Listed at 6’ 1” and 210lbs, he played wide receiver and running back, as well as linebacker in high school. He needs some weight but looks like he can develop into a solid inside linebacker that fits the mold of what BV wants in guys at the position. As QT noted back when he committed, his 4.91 time in the 40 is a little worrisome. He looks faster on film, but playing up in Pennsylvania, the level of competition comes into question. It will be interesting to see how he transitions to playing at this level. Add in the fact that he needs to put on more weight and it may be safe to say that we see Maguire take a redshirt season while acclimating himself to the speed of the college game and learning how to play in this system.

QT’s Take:

His 4.91 40 time is worrisome. Can’t just write it off, but there is a lot to like in Maguire as a prospect. With the amount of LB takes in the class, Keith is a likely redshirt prospect, but he fits the Brent Venables mold.

Maguire is a very good tackler. He gets in the box and strikes—relishes the physicality. He wraps up ball carriers with ease. He diagnosis plays extremely well and is instinctual. Those are the kinds of characteristics that BV loves. He needs to prove he can run sideline to sideline and get off blocks in the same way against bigger lineman, but he shows the pad level, suddenness, and flexibility to be a quality linebacker in college.