Clemson’s spring game Saturday apparently was the perfect setting for nationally recruited safety RJ Mickens of Southlake, TX to announce a commitment to the Tigers. Mickens, viewed by some analysts as the top safety prospect in the nation for his class, picked Clemson from a lead pack that also included LSU, Texas, A&M, Alabama, Oklahoma, Ohio State, Michigan, Notre Dame, Florida, Nebraska and Miami.
Mickens, the son of former NFL cornerback Ray Mickens, camped at Clemson last summer and visited last season and for a junior day earlier this year. After that visit, Mickens said he was impressed by the Clemson defense and saw a good fit for him in it.
“They play a lot of different types of coverages, a very multiple type of defense,” Mickens said. “In practices, of course, they are going up against some of the best receivers and the best quarterback. They’ve got top ten facilities and top ten coaches. They don’t always recruit the highest rated but the highest character. They want character, too, and high rated. And I like the atmosphere of the people there.”
Last season Mickens had 57 tackles with 2 interceptions, and he has 7 interceptions over the past three seasons. He’s the 10th commitment for Clemson’s 2020 class and the first for the secondary.
