Clemson beat Ohio State again, this time for four-star WR Troy Stellato (6-0 172) of Fort Lauderdale. The heavily recruited Stellato narrowed his decision to the Tigers and Buckeyes weeks ago. He was able to visit both during the recruiting process, but Clemson got the more recent visit, and because of the extended recruiting dead period, he wasn’t able to make a planned return trip to Columbus.
“That was a huge factor,” Stellato said during his announcement streamed live on SI.com. “It was the last place I visited. They rolled out the red carpet for me. I just felt like it was home. I didn’t want to be anywhere else. It’s a different program and I really wanted to be a part of it.”
Stellato was first recruited to Clemson by receivers coach Jeff Scott. Once he moved to USF, new receivers coach Tyler Grisham took over. Stellato quickly built a relationship with him, and also liked what he heard and saw from head coach Dabo Swinney.
“I kind of ell in love with everything Coach Swinney preaches and how he runs his program,” Stellato said. “I felt like there wasn’t another program like it. And they produce amazing wide receiver. I had a gut feeling that was where I wanted to be. I went to a game and loved the atmosphere. And Coach Grisham, I can’t wait to get to work with him.
Stellato said earlier this year he and Grisham hit it off from the start when he first visited Clemson.
“Coach Grisham was with me a lot on the first visit, so that’s when the relationship started building,” Stellato said. “Coach Grisham reached out to me and told me I was his guy and I was a priority. When he did that, it really showed love because he literally reached out right when he got the job. I really appreciated that. And the last visit for the junior day, I spent a lot of time with him. He broke down some things for me and it really boosted my point of view on the situation with Clemson. I got to watch a little bit of spring practice and it really looked like he knows what he’s talking about and seems like the players really respect him.”
Stellato is viewed as a slot receiver in the mold of former Clemson star Hunter Renfrow. But he said in his announcement he will play in the slot or outside, wherever the coaches need him.
“I think it’s a perfect fit,” he said of the offense. “I can help them inside or outside. They’re going to get a player that’s going to work their tail off.
Last season Stellato had 42 catches for 727 yards and 9 touchdowns. He’s ranked 22nd nationally among receivers and the #19 prospect in Florida in the 247Sports Composite. He gives the Tigers 14 commitments for the 2021 class and the third receiver.
Troy Stellato on SportsTalk
