Irmo OT Nate Carson has hit up Clemson, USC, and Georgia so far this spring. Clemson got the first visit for the Elite Retreat on March 7th. USC was next for their major gathering of talent on March 21st. And last weekend, Carson was in Athens for a visit with the Bulldogs.
“It was amazing. I loved it down there,” Carson said of his time in Athens. And what stood out the most to him? “How dominant the O-line is. They were really dominating their D-line, and how physical they were. Everything was just perfect. They told me again that they are about to turn it up on this recruitment, because they want me down there bad. It’s a winning program. They develop a lot, and that’s all I need. I’m trying to go to the NFL.”
The visit to USC was also a good one for Carson as he got a full day of exposure to the Gamecocks.
“They got me there early in the morning for all the meetings. I did everything,” Carson said. “I was there from morning to almost night. Coach Smooth (Jason Smith) had me doing a lot of stuff. Not training, but walking through a lot of stuff. He was telling me things I need to know, like some of the stuff that I did in my workouts and some of the stuff I need to work on. We turned on my film, and we watched that. He turned on his film when he was at Baylor. He was killing them boys.”
Carson also talked with head coach Shane Beamer while on that visit.
“They are telling me it’s home,” Carson said. “Coach Beamer told me that he wants me to start this ’27 O-line class off with a commit. I’m doing it July 3rd. I don’t know where yet, but I know South Carolina has definitely got a chance.”
As does Clemson, as Carson and the Tigers’ offensive line coach Matt Luke have grown tight throughout the recruiting process.
“The development that coach Matt Luke does and the history he has with putting O-linemen into the NFL, that’s amazing,” Carson said. “Clemson, in general, is a winning program. I know they had that little fluke season this year. Me and Dabo (Swinney) talked a lot, and I love what I’m hearing. The things that they can do for me outside of football, that’s what gives them a plus, because I know that after football I’ll always have something to do.”
While Carson can see himself in the orange of Clemson, there’s that other school in the area that dons orange jerseys that has a tighter hold on him right now.
“I love Tennessee. I love what Tennessee can do,” Carson said. “That’s my top five right there…Georgia, Tennessee, Clemson, Texas A&M, and South Carolina.”
And is there a favorite?
“I can say Tennessee,” Carson said. “It’s a big lead, honestly. They just showed from the start that they want me. David Sanders, he’s going to be there. If I go there, I can learn from him. He’s going to be going to the draft and should be a first-rounder. I can learn from him. Take what he tells me and make it into my own craft. We talk every time I come down.”
Later this spring, Carson said he will visit Tennessee and Texas A&M, and he plans to return to USC. He has official visits set with four of the schools…Clemson on May 29th, Texas A&M on June 5th, Tennessee on June 12th, and USC on June 19th. He’s still working on an official visit date with Georgia.