His coach
Starkville coach Chris Jones told 247Sports' Yancy Porter in early May that he believes Clemons "is the best defensive lineman in the state" of Mississippi.
"He just has great get-off speed and the best hands I've ever coached," Jones told Porter. "When he gets his hands on you, it's over. Jalil has such a high motor. He plays sideline to sideline. He's 6-foot-2.5, 240, but I think he will grow into a 285-pound guy playing the three-technique when he gets to college."
Clemons recorded 73 tackles, including 22 tackles for loss, along with 11 sacks and five forced fumbles as a junior. But his limited size has hurt his recruitment.
"Mississippi State came by and flat-out said they weren't taking him because he's too small," Jones told Porter. "Somebody is going to sign him and shake their heads in a couple of years that they got this guy. I was with (Mississippi State defensive lineman) Jeffery Simmons, and he hit a growth spurt his senior season. I'm telling you, the two play just like one another. Play with an edge on the field. No one can block Jalil one-on-one. I know that.
"Wait until he gets at some of these camps and combines this summer," Jones said in early May. "He'll blow up. Hands down, he's better than (LSU commitment and teammate) Zach Edwards. That's no knock on Zach. Jalil is just in another league
