DE JR Hardrick (6-6 235) of South Pittsburg, TN got a recruiting changing phone call last Sunday from Clemson defensive ends coach Chris Rumph who delivered the news that he had an offer from the Tigers. Hardrick said Tuesday night that with the Clemson offer in the bank, that’s all he needs in the recruiting process.
“You can’t beat that. Great develop, education. You can’t beat that,” Hardrick said. “That’s the place. I ain’t looking around. Not too far from home, far enough I can get away. That’s the place. Great development. Great education. And they don’t really dip into the Portal, so I’ve got a chance to play. You can’t really beat that at all.”
Hardrick set an official visit to Clemson for May 30th when he expects to make things official with the Tigers.
“I’m not committed yet, but when I take this official visit, it will be a higher percent,” Hardrick said.
Hardrick’s only other visit to Clemson took place on March 23rd at the end of a recruiting trip that also took him to North Carolina, Duke and Wake Forest.
“They treated me well,” Hardrick said. “Me and Coach Rumph said down and talked about some film, watched my film. He told me some things to get better and stuff like that.”
Rumph was in to see Hardrick last Friday and the two had a chance to go in depth about his skills and how he would fit in with the Tigers. Hardrick said what Rumph sees in him is a defensive end he can mold and develop into an elite player with the Tigers.
“The raw potential I have,” Hardrick said. “My frame, the way I move and stuff like that. He sees way more potential. My best football is not near yet. I’ve got long arms and legs, so my get off is going to be good. My length would be my biggest upside.”
Hardrick also has Power 4 offers from Georgia Tech and Louisville, and he scheduled official visits with both June 6th and June 13th respectively. Those, of course, won’t take place if he makes that commitment to the Tigers on his official visit there.