Clemson has three offensive linemen commitment for their 2023 class. The Tigers may add a fourth, and a prime candidate for that spot is Gabriel Fortson (6-4 300) of Kennesaw, GA. Fortson plays center for North Cobb Christian, but he can also play guard. Clemson offensive line coach Thomas Austin has not yet offered, but the two have been dealing with one another since he camped there in the summer of 2021.
“Did really well. Got Coach Austin’s number and we’ve been in contact since then,” Fortson said. “I went to a game that year as well. After that, I didn’t talk to Coach Austin until around this summer where I went to camp. I completely balled out. Did better than I did the year prior to that. The recruiting from Clemson picked up. What me and Coach Austin have talked about is they really can’t offer yet, but there’s a certain situation that’s probably going to happen soon that would end up with me being offered.”
Fortson said Austin likes the fact he can play multiple positions on the interior, and he’s very athletic for a 300-pounder.
“He likes my footwork,” Fortson said. “He thinks I’m fundamentally sound and everything. I just need to get bigger in college, that’s about it.”
Fortson has visited Clemson multiple, times, most recently for the Louisiana Tech game. The Tigers have always been a priority program for him.
“I loved it. It’s my dream school,” Fortson said. “It’s one of my dream schools that I would love to go to. Seeing that become a reality means a lot.”
Fortson said NC State, Georgia Tech and UCF are other top schools with him at this point. This season he attended the Clemson vs Georgia Tech and Louisiana Tech at Clemson games. He is taking an official visit to UCF this weekend, and he took one to Georgia Tech in the summer.
He’s also visited NC State, East Carolina, Ole Miss, Mississippi State, UCF, North Carolina, Georgia State and Georgia Southern. He said there is a plan in the works for a return trip to Clemson.
Fortson had set October 8th for a commitment announcement but that date has now been scratched, and he said he doesn’t have a #1 at this point.
