STRecruiting: Clemson’s full-court press may ultimately result in a football commitment from 2028 safety James

Tom Allen’s defenses are known for being aggressive. The veteran Clemson DC uses a similar philosophy on the recruiting trail, and it has been paying off recently.

For 2028 safety CJ Craig-James (6-3, 185) of Birmingham (AL), it was clear that the Tigers had zeroed in on him once they made their move.

On Monday, James announced his top 12 schools, with Clemson joining Auburn, Florida, Cal, Miami, Georgia, Vanderbilt, Alabama, Notre Dame, Ohio State, Oregon, and LSU.

“They didn’t get in it until June,” James said regarding his interest in Clemson. “Coach Eason came and watched me practice this summer, then on June 15th the whole staff sent a blitz and started hitting me up.”

So far, that attention has certainly yielded positive results. James believes Clemson hasn’t taken its foot off the gas one bit since mid-June, and it’s struck a chord with the Alabama prospect.

“It’s how intentional they are,” he explained. “You can tell they care about developing young men, not just football players. It’s thousands of athletes out there, but for them to make sure they hit me up every single day shows I’m a priority.”

Clemson’s protocol has always been to offer athletes after they visit campus, giving each side greater familiarity with the situation. While James doesn’t hold an offer yet, what the Tigers have done so far has been enough to warrant a top 12 spot.

Not only is the staff treating him like a priority, but James knows defensive backs at Clemson play on Sundays, and that is what he wants for his career. An offer would be the first step towards that goal.

“It would mean a lot,” James said. “The proof is in the pudding. They put DBs in the league every year.”

Outside of Clemson, Georgia, Miami, Alabama, and Notre Dame have stood out. James hopes that by midseason he will have a top-four, and the race will be officially underway.

James plans to make his introductory visit to Clemson for the Georgia Southern matchup, hoping to score an offer in the process.