DT Victor Burley (6-4 278) of Warner Robins, GA has Clemson and USC on his short list. From that list he’s decided on five official visits. Clemson is on that list, USC is not, but the Gamecocks are not out of the picture with him.
Burley said he has set official visits to Tennessee May 27th, Michigan State June 3rd, Georgia June 10th and Ohio State June 24th. His Clemson visit, he said, would come in July or in September.
Clemson defensive line coach Nick Eason has been recruiting Burley since his days at Auburn. Defensive coordinator Wes Goodman also has been involved and the two are in regular contact with Burley.
“My conversations with Clemson really haven’t been about recruiting. They just check in on me and make sure everything is OK,” Burley said. “They will come see me at school. They show consistency. They occasionally talk about football, but they are just there and talk about life.”
Burley is a defensive tackle by trade, and he said the Tigers like him for that. But he has the skills of an edge rusher, and there’s been some talk of him as that with the Tigers.
“They’re really saying I’m an interior player,” Burley said. “Coach (Lemanski) Hall will make some jokes saying they could use me on the outside, too. But they say I fit the scheme interior-wise.”
USC defensive line coach Jimmy Lindsey also is working Burley. He doesn’t have the Gamecocks down for a visit right now, but he said Lindsey is talking with him about a possible visit in July if that can be arranged.
“Coach Lindsey is consistent with his recruiting too,” Burley said. “He’s always saying they could use me on the interior or outside. Sometimes he says I could play (right away) when I get there.”
Burley, who said he does not have a favorite, plans to wait until the fall on a decision. The others on his previous short list were Florida, Texas A&M, Florida State, Oklahoma, LSU and Miami.
Last season Burley made 54 tackles with 14 tackles for loss and 5 sacks.
