The 2023 Clemson football recruiting class does not yet have a commitment from a South Carolina athlete. But the Tigers have gone across the border into Georgia and done a lot of damage. Their eighth public commitment from the Peach State came Sunday from SAF Rob Billings (6-1 185) of Alpharetta.
Billings was at Clemson Monday for the cook-out. He also visited in March and made his official visit in June. That was his only official visit because after that weekend, Billings decided Clemson was the place for him as he developed a strong relationship with defensive coordinator Wes Goodwin and safeties coach Mickey Conn.
“They just actively recruited me throughout my process,” Billings said. “Some schools fell off with the relationship or just stopped talking to me. In terms of what they have to offer, the education is a big part of it. And my relationship with Coach Wes and Coach Conn has always been strong since we started talking and it never let up like with other schools. And it’s pretty close to home. I don’t have to go far being from Georgia. Just the family vibe there. And I know a lot of guys that’s going there in the class of ’23.”
Billings is the second safety committed to the class joining Kylen Webb. He sees a chance for some early snaps with the Tigers and Conn has assured him he will get his shot as a freshman.
“Coach Conn preaches to me that he wasn’t scared to start a freshman,” Billings said. “(Andrew) Mukuba was a freshman when he came in and started and was a Freshman All-American. He just wants me to work hard when I get there, and we’ll see how things go from there. But he’s been preaching to me that he’s not scared to start a freshman.”
Billings chose Clemson from a short list that also included Florida State, Duke, Kentucky, Ole Miss, Cincinnati and Missouri. He’s the Tigers 18th commitment for the 2023 class.
2023 Clemson commitments:
- AVIEON TERRELL CB 6-0 170 ATLANTA
- BRANDEN STROZIER CB 6-2 175 ALPHARETTA, GA
- DAVID OJIEGBE DE 6-3 235 WASHINGTON, DC
- AJ HOFFLER DE 6-5 240 COLLEGE PARK, GA
- VICTOR BURLEY DT 6-4 278 WARNER ROBINS, GA
- STEPHIYLAN GREEN DT 6-4 275 ROME, GA
- PETER WOODS DT 6-2 265 ALABASTER, AL
- JAMAL ANDERSON LB 6-4 195 HOSCHTON, GA
- DEE CRAYTON LB 6-2 215 ALPHARETTA, GA
- IAN REED OT 6-5 310 AUSTIN, TX
- HARRIS SEWELL OT 6-4 290 ODESSA, TX
- ZECHARIA OWENS OT 6-7 355 MCDONOUGH, GA
- CHRISTOPHER VIZZINA QB 6-4 207 BIRMINGHAM
- KYLEN WEBB SAF 6-1 180 SARASOTA, FL
- ROB BILLINGS SAF 6-1 185 ALPHARETTA, GA
- OLSEN HENRY TE 6-4 210 NAPLES, FL
- MARKUS DIXON TE 6-5 230 WARMINSTER, PA
- NOBLE JOHNSON WR 6-3 205 ROCKWALL, TX
