Perennial Powerhouse Tigers’ Consistent Success on the Gridiron Begins on the Recruiting Trail by Steven Bradley | photos by Rex Brown IPTAY Media
L Recruiting Coordinator Jeff Scott was instrumental in helping the Tigers land a fifth straight top-13 signing class according to ESPN.
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Orange: The Experience
ike most everyone else watching on national television, Jeff Scott is adamant he had no idea what was going to come out of Mackensie Alexander’s mouth — or more specifically, what school’s logo would be emblazoned on the hat he placed atop his head — as he sat on stage at his high school in Immokalee, FL, to announce his college decision live on ESPNU on Feb. 6, otherwise known as National Signing Day. One of America’s truly elite prospects, rated the No. 4 overall player in the nation by ESPN, Alexander reached under the table into a bag filled with hats representing the schools under consideration. First, he placed a Mississippi State hat on the table. “Should it be Mississippi State?” he wondered aloud and then reached back into the bag. He produced a Clemson hat and asked his audience, “Should it be Clemson?” When Alexander went into the bag once more as he began to verbalize his verdict, Scott feared the Tigers had missed out on the blue-chip cornerback. “We got very nervous when he pulled out the first Clemson hat and reached for the second hat,” said Scott, the Tigers’ recruiting coordinator. “I promise you, we did not know.” Of course, Alexander ultimately produced another Clemson cap, orange with a large white Tiger Paw, and announced he would play his college ball in Death Valley. “We are going to talk to him about that when he gets here,” Scott said with a wry smile. “He got us all, for sure. I think he was probably having fun with a lot of people.” The fact Clemson nabbed the signature of the player who became the headliner of its class — Alexander is the second-highestranked prospect by ESPN (4th) that Clemson has ever signed behind only Da’Quan Bowers, the top player in the nation in