Top linebacker target has Tigers at the top as decision nears (2024)

Clemson is in great shape with a top linebacker target as his decision day nears.

The Tigers have a long lineage of outstanding linebackers, and defensive coordinator and linebackers coach Wes Goodwin and head coach Dabo Swinney are convinced Kamar Archie (6-1 215) can be another great Tiger second-level defender. Archie is a 4-star 2025 prospect out of Trenton (NJ) Hun School who made his official visit to Clemson the first weekend of the month.

That visit has placed the Tigers at the top of his list.

“I’m planning on committing hopefully sometime the last week of June or early July,” he said. “My plan for after the visits is to really this through and compare each visit that I have. Clemson is an amazing place, a very special place. I could really tell it’s a special place. They really sit high on the board for me. I can’t wait to make this decision and finally get it over with. I would say they (Clemson) lead.”

Archie also visited Clemson in March for a spring practice. The official visit, however, gave him a much better sense of what the Tigers are doing with their program.

“I took away a lot of great things from not only Coach Goodwin and Coach Swinney but also my hosts and the other linebackers there getting to ask questions,” Archie said. “I’ve been there in the spring, and I already know what the program is about, but just learning more about what they are about, and realizing how consistent they are in the things that they preach to their players.”

Goodwin loves versatile linebackers so that he can cross-train them to play multiple positions. Archie said he is a perfect candidate for that.

“Since I’m an athletic guy, they see me playing the Mike or the Will,” Archie said. “The Will covers a lot more, which is something I’m pretty good at doing. They see me being used as a Will or potentially being an inside Mike. They have a good track record of linebackers that I feel like are pretty much like me, can move sideline to sideline. Trenton Simpson, for example. They’ve got Barrett Carter who is really good at covering slot receivers and tight ends, but all playing the run. I could definitely see myself fitting in that scheme.”

Archie was scheduled to visit Texas A&M last weekend but did not go. He will be at Rutgers this weekend and then take his final official visit to Michigan the following weekend. Archie has been to Rutgers more than any other campus, and Michigan is always strong in recruiting the best players out of Jersey. But those factors might not be enough to overcome the lead Clemson for Archie coming off his visit there.

“It really put them at a high place in my recruitment,” Archie said. “It’s amazing people there, from the team to just everyone that’s at Clemson, it’s great people there. I just got an amazing vibe. It’s a vibe that you don’t really get at every place. That is something I’ll always remember when I’m making my decision. They are about winning football games, too. With them being about being a great young man and doing what you’ve got to do in the classroom, they emphasize that a lot. But they also win football games while making academics and becoming a great man the main focus. That’s a real big highlight for me.”

Had an amazing OV at @ClemsonFB this weekend. This place is special! Thank you @Wesleygoodwin @CoachCthomason @Red_Zone75!! 🐅 pic.twitter.com/OVywQ92ZUg

— Kamar (@KamarsirArchie) June 4, 2024