The Clemson Tigers added a playmaker to their future secondary when cornerback prospect AJ Terrell joined their 2017 recruiting class.
Terrell announced his decision Friday, per Woody Wommack of Rivals.
Per 247Sports’ composite rankings, the 6’2” and 180-pound Terrell is a 4-star prospect and the No. 71 overall player, No. 9 cornerback in the nation and the No. 7 recruit from the state of Georgia in the 2017 class.
The Georgia native caught the eye of plenty of SEC schools during the recruiting process, including Auburn. The Tigers had earned 100 percent of the "crystal ball" predictions on 247Sports as of April 20, and Terrell said, “I love Auburn, to be honest. It’s close to the house. It’s just a great school,” per Chuck Kingsbury of SEC Country.
However, Auburn wasn’t the only SEC program to pursue Terrell. Georgia, Florida, South Carolina and Alabama were also on his 247Sports school list, as well as programs outside of the SEC, such as Clemson and Notre Dame.
In the event, Clemson got his commitment.
While Terrell is listed as a cornerback, he is versatile enough to line up at the safety spot as well. Hudl shared some of Terrell’s highlights from his junior season in high school that drew so much attention from top-notch programs:
Scout.com broke down Terrell’s game and noted he was more of an offensive player than a defensive one as he developed into a sought-after recruit. However, those wide receiver skills help him play the ball as a cornerback and create turnovers with his instincts.
The Scout.com analysis also pointed to his “excellent range on the third level of defense,” which will help him if his new school decides to line him up as a safety.
Between his overall versatility that allows him to line up at multiple positions and his instincts when he is defending wide receivers, Terrell has the skill set to contribute right away at his new school.
Terrell has superstar potential. If he lives up to it, this will be a critical victory on the recruiting trail for Clemson.