It can’t hurt to get a little help from time to time in the recruiting game. And that’s exactly what Clemson had in its early pursuit of 2028 defensive lineman Prince Che (6-4, 275) of Thomas County Central in Thomasville, GA. Che has picked up some notable offers as of late, scoring attention from Brent Venables and Oklahoma before his trip to Clemson for the SMU game.
Early in October, he visited Florida State, receiving an offer to kick off the month, and followed that up with another one from Mississippi State. But Clemson may have a leg up when it comes to Che’s recruitment.
Scott Pagano played for the Tigers from 2014 to 2017, winning a national championship during his time, and now is coaching high school football, working as the defensive line coach for Thomas County Central. In his first year with the Jackets, he’s had the opportunity to tutor Che and was instrumental in getting his prized defensive lineman to Clemson in October.
“Coach Pagano was a big help in setting up the visit,” Che said. “He reached out to the Clemson staff and made sure everything was organized so we could make the trip.”
Che had nothing but great things to say about the visit, praising Clemson’s atmosphere and noting how locked in the fanbase was from beginning to end.
“It was an amazing experience,” he explained. “The atmosphere was electric from start to finish. The fans, the energy, and the way the team plays with so much passion ’til the end really stood out. You can tell Clemson has a special culture.”
While he was on campus, Che had the opportunity to visit with Nick Eason, who spoke with the young defender about his game and what they try to identify within their recruitment.
“I had the chance to talk with Coach Eason, the defensive tackles coach,” Che pointed out. “He was very genuine and easy to talk to. We discussed my game, what they look for in defensive linemen, and how they develop players on and off the field. It was a great conversation, and I learned a lot from him.”
Clemson made a positive impression on Che and joins an impressive list of programs looking to jump in early on his recruitment. Right now though, he’s focused on his high school season and continuing to build relationships with the schools that have made an early impression.
“I’m staying focused on finishing my season strong and continuing to improve every week,” he detailed. “I plan to take a few more visits and keep building relationships with college coaches. I’m just taking my time and making sure I find the best fit both on the field and in the classroom.”