Clemson Dominates on Signing Day

Clemson has made a wonderful push for the top classin the ACC - in fact if Miami hadnt made a similar push they might have just passed them for tops in the ACC. But with Jacksonville, FL running back Jamie Harper and Anniston, AL offesnive lineman Antoine McClain, this class is turning inot one of the best in the nation.

I love Jamie Harper. I think he is the No. 3 RB in the nation.

There might not be a running back in the nation with Harper’s skill set. He is too quick and elusive to be considered a power back, but that is his style of play. He is very physical, playing behind his pads with textbook precision. He will hit most holes with low, square pad level and deliver the blow as he falls forward. He will pick up the tough yards.

At almost 220 pounds, Harper shows the ability to maneuver in small spaces, run away from defenders and impact the passing game in a way no power back can. He is surprisingly light on his feet and shows remarkable quickness in the open field for a prospect of his size. Harper is the most polished pass catcher from the pure running back position.

Oregon’s Jonathan Stewart is a solid comparison. Harper’s one area of weakness is his top-end speed. Stewart returns kicks for the Ducks; Harper does not have burner speed like that. Otherwise, Harper is a four-down running back and will be used in 3rd-and-long, as well as along the goal line.
Harper is an outstanding prospect and has NFL stamped on his forehead.

McClain is a solid pick-up as well.

What is scary about how big McClain is that he will get bigger. His massive 300-plus pound frame actually affords him room to grow. His size and power are two of his main strengths. Once this young lineman gets his hands on defenders they normally go for a ride. His solid hand technique and quick feet allow him to swing and move well once engaged with defenders.

His motor is always running, as are his feet. He carries his weight well using those active feet to recover nicely from mistakes. Those mistakes come primarily with speedy edge pass-rushers. He has trouble opening his stance up and giving the outside to defensive ends.

One great thing about McClain’s weaknesses is that there is a concerted effort on his part to address mistakes. This means he is studying his game and working hard to improve.

Oh yeah, and the Tigers stole a really nice tight end prospect from Tight End-U in Georgia's Dwayne Allen. Just a great day for the Clemson Tigers.