Clemson Update
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The next target slated to come off the board is Martin (Tenn.) Westview four-star quarterback Ty Simpson.
Simpson (6-2, 185), ranked No. 36 nationally, remains set to disclose his pledge next Friday -- Feb. 19 -- in an afternoon ceremony at his school.
In last week's edition, we reported that per multiple sources surrounding the recruitment, Tennessee stood on the outside looking in.
You rarely say never in recruiting, but barring a postponement in announcement date, the Vols won't be the pick despite Josh Heupel's efforts to kick the can along. Based on our info, we don't expect that to occur.
As we wrote in our Recruiting Big Board quarterback edition Wednesday, that left three contenders: Clemson, Alabama and Texas A&M. Notre Dame is being bandied about in the industry, but the Irish were way too late to offer and aren't a serious consideration.
Texas A&M -- whom we had cast as the long-shot of the three -- then took a commitment last week from Cypress (Texas) Bridgeland four-star Conner Weigman.
Jimbo Fisher's son plays for Simpson's father at UT Martin.
If Fisher thought Simpson was coming, he wouldn't have seized Weigman.
And then there were two.
We began framing Bama as trending with Simpson in the fall, based on returns picked up before and then after Simpson's visit to Clemson. If you'd have asked us late in the calendar year where Simpson was going, we'd probably have pointed to Tuscaloosa.
Trevor Lawrence was headed to UGA once upon a time, too.
You just have to be the last one standing.