Clemson Adds RB Kobe Pryor to 2020 Recruiting Class

Clemson secured a verbal commitment from 3-star running back Kobe Pryor today. Pryor will come to Clemson from Cedartown, Georgia (Cedartown) and is 5-10, 205 pounds. He is the #55 ranked running back in the 2020 class per the 247Sports Composite and the #750 player overall. Pryor chose Clemson over Auburn and Georgia Tech. The Tigers took the lead in his recruitment following his visit to the Spring Game earlier this year and Pryor committed to the take the final running back spot in the 2020 class shortly after Demarkcus Bowman made his intention to join the class public. Pryor’s commitment extends Clemson’s grasp on the #1 ranked 2020 class even further and is the 16th commitment overall.

Tony Elliott led Pryor’s recruitment and has earned the fanbase’s trust with his ability to evaluate running back talent. Pryor was coveted by Clemson during this cycle, so I wouldn’t think twice about UGA not giving Pryor the offer he reportedly wanted most. Additionally, Pryor has generated significant buzz this Spring and will likely receive a rankings bump during the next round of updates.

He posted a 4.83 40 yard dash, a 4.32 shuttle, and a 35 inch vertical leap at the recent Opening Regional in Atlanta. His 40 yard dash time is mediocre, but his 35-inch vertical suggests that his slow 40 could be the result of a poor run or lack of training for the test. Elliott clearly sees Pryor as the type of bulldozer the Tigers have been missing since the Cordarrian Richardson decommitment in 2016. He will bring some desired diversity to the RB room and be the change of pace back that Adam Choice and CJ Fuller were in recent years.

Clemson will maintain contact with APB Daniyel Ngata during the remainder of the recruiting cycle, however, two commitments at the running back position are all the staff intends to take at the moment.

You can watch his highlights below

QT’s Take:

Kobe Pryor has a lot of excellent qualities in a running back and provides skills that will be unique in the current RB room for Coach Tony Elliott. This recruitment was all about Elliott picking his guy and pursuing him harder than any other team. Pryor has legit offers, but coveted one from UGA. When they didn’t offer, deciding to pursue two backs higher on their board, Clemson was in the prime position to attract Kobe to campus and make him feel like a priority.

Of course, I am a big fan of Daniyel Ngata, who I hope Clemson continues to pursue, but that shouldn’t factor into the evaluation of Pryor right now.

Pryor is going to fill the need of being a bigger back. He has the frame to continue to fill out. He is very strong and shows decent quickness on tape. He doesn’t have great long speed, but he can hit the hole and shed tacklers when needed. I want to see his senior film before making definitive statements about his ceiling. I would like to see more film of Pryor catching the ball (in limited film he seems to do just fine) because I haven’t been to Cedartown. I would also like to see Pryor playing through contact more and running people over if he is going to fill the big back role. He doesn’t shy away from contact now, but I’d like to see more YAC yards for a player with his strength.

As a second RB take this is a solid player who will likely climb into the 4* range. Georgia Tech and Auburn were seriously pursuing him and if this were the 2019 class I would be very happy with this pickup (which shows just how spoiled we are with this current class).

With Pryor as the 16th take in the class that doesn’t leave many spots open. Clemson will still likely take 2 wide receivers, Burch as an oversign DE, and a Safety, perhaps a TE and then evaluate if there is room for another LB take. It is tight, but Clemson will definitely take 19, probably 20 and I think they should take 21.