Aiken WR Braylon Staley (6-0 175) is not just a top football prospect in the state for the 2024 class, he’s also one of the state’s top athletes. Last spring, he won the 4A triple-jump championship. Saturday he was at the Clemson junior day where head coach Dabo Swinney and receivers coach Tyler Grisham jumped on him trying to secure that athleticism for their receiving corps.
“It was great. I took a lot from it,” Staley said of the visit. “I thought I knew a lot about Clemson, but when Coach Swinney talked to us, gave us a speech, I actually learned a lot just about the program. Clemson is just not about football. That really stood out to me. It’s not just about football, but it’s about life after football. He said the NFL stands for “Not For Long.” He was telling us they were getting us prepared to be a man in life and be a great father and a great husband.”
Auburn just offered Staley on Sunday. He’s also landed offers from Alabama Wake Forest, Vanderbilt, North Carolina, Georgia Tech, NC State, Virginia Tech, Miami and West Virginia among others. The Clemson coaches made it clear to Staley there’s a spot for him in their offense.
“Coach Swinney told me they want me bad,” Staley said. “He asked me, what’s taking too long? He was like, is there anything you’re waiting on? And I just told him, no sir. And Coach Grisham was telling me and another recruit that they love our film, love what we did, and they are just waiting on us to commit. They like me as both slot and outside.”
In January, Staley has also taken visits to Georgia Tech, Wake Forest and North Carolina. Those were all good visits, but the day at Clemson Saturday got his attention.
“They stand high, they jumped up,” Staley said. “They are definitely one to watch out for. I’ve got a couple, but as of right now they are my favorite so far from this visit. I plan on taking some visits during the spring and I’ll probably be set to commit after my official visits.”
As for USC at this point, Staley said, “There is some interest, but I don’t know what else I have to do to get the opportunity to play at their school.”
Last season Staley ha 930 receiving yards with nine touchdowns. His father, Brian Staley, was a major prospect out of Aiken in the early 2000s. He had 26 career interceptions in high school. He signed with Clemson but first attended Georgia Military JC and earned junior college All-America honors. He later signed with Mississippi State.
