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Clemson adds junior pledge to winning weekend
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October 20, 2009 - 12:10 a.m. EST

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Phil Kornblut

Phil Kornblut

Clemson’s post-game celebration after beating Wake Forest on Saturday included gaining its fourth commitment for the 2011 class, as defensive back Cortez Davis (6-4, 190) committed on the spot after getting an offer from Tigers head coach Dabo Swinney.

“I met with Coach Swinney, he offered and I committed,” said Davis, who also has offers from Texas Tech, Florida International, Oregon and West Virginia. “I was happy. I like how they play. I loved the crowd. And I want to be with Marlin at Clemson.”

Davis’ teammate, junior running back Marlin Lane, committed to the Tigers earlier this year.

Davis plays corner and safety, and could be used as a receiver at Clemson.

Even though he won’t sign until February 2011, Davis says he won’t betray his pledge.

“I think I’ll be attending Clemson,” he said.

This season, Davis has 23 tackles and four interceptions. Last season, Davis totaled 36 tackles and four interceptions. He had seven picks as a freshman.

Defensive lineman Ainsley Miller (6-4, 275) of Concord, N.C. also made an unofficial visit to Clemson on Saturday and was joined by his mother and two friends.

Clemson hasn’t offered Miller yet, but he says the Tigers are very interested.

“I gave them a transcript and film,” Miller said. “Hopefully that will get them to offer me so I can go to their school.”

Miller calls Clemson his favorite right now.

“I had a great time there,” he said. “The coaches were excellent and the school is very nice. It felt like home.” Miller said his coach, former Panthers safety Mike Minter, has been in touch with USC recruiter Jay Graham.

He’s also drawing interest from North Carolina, New Mexico, West Virginia, Nebraska, Virginia, N.C. State and TCU.

Miller has an official visit scheduled for West Virginia this weekend and New Mexico on Dec. 4.

One-time Florida commitment Victor Hampton (5-10, 175), a defensive back out of Darlington, has set an official visit with South Carolina for Nov. 13. Hampton has been getting the hard sell on USC from recruiters Ellis Johnson and Lorenzo Ward.

“They want to prepare me for the next level,” Hampton said. “My goal is to play in the NFL. And seeing that they do play their freshmen, that’s got me interested, too.”

Hampton will take an official visit to Tennessee on Oct. 30. He also wants to visit Miami. Hampton also is hearing from Clemson, North Carolina and Georgia. Clemson was actually his first offer, but he has USC and Tennessee at the top of his list right now.

Hampton played at Independence High in Charlotte last season where he had 10 interceptions as a junior.

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More from the recruiting trail:

— Defensive lineman Tra Thomas of Wadesboro, N.C., has plans to set one of his official visits with Clemson. He might go to Michigan State this weekend, and he’s set with Duke for Dec. 4. He also likes East Carolina. Thomas hears from Clemson defensive line coach Dan Brooks regularly. “I’m still their number one defensive lineman on their board,” said Thomas. He was at Clemson for the Boston College game. He doesn’t have a favorite.

— Clemson soft commitment athlete Victor Beasley of Adairsville, Ga., planned to be at the Wake Forest game. He continues to look hard at Auburn and Tennessee and plans to visit Auburn for the Alabama game. He’s been to Auburn for a game and he plans to be at Tennessee for the USC game.

— Clemson commitment defensive end Corey Crawford of Columbus, Ga., visited Florida State unofficially for its recent game with Georgia Tech and is now giving the Seminoles consideration after being told they will offer him.

— Tight end/defensive end Ethan Farmer of Tabor City, N.C., will take an unofficial visit to Clemson for the Coastal Carolina game. He is also planning to take in games at North Carolina, Tennessee, Alabama, Virginia Tech and N.C. State. Farmer will set up officials with five of those schools. He’s also getting interest now from Auburn, UCLA and Kentucky.

— Manning defensive back John Fulton made an official visit to Alabama over the weekend for the USC game. He was scheduled for an official to LSU the previous weekend but didn’t make it. Fulton is also planning official visits with USC, Florida and Georgia, plus Michigan and Tennessee have made recent pushes. USC and Alabama have been his top two.

— Defensive back Dontrell Johnson of Garden City JC (Kan.) is scheduled for his official visit to USC this weekend, but that visit might be pushed back because the Gamecocks want to see how he’s progressing academically regarding a December graduation. He also plans to visit Purdue and UAB.

— Defensive lineman Ego Ferguson Jr. of Hargrave Prep (Va.) will make an unofficial visit to USC for the Florida game. He has three official visits determined with Notre Dame, Oklahoma and LSU. He’s also got North Carolina, Miami, Florida State, Maryland, UCLA and Cal on his list, but he may cut that down to a final five this week.

— Wide receiver Ace Sanders of Bradenton, Fla., plans to set officials with USC, West Virginia, Tennessee and South Florida. Going into Friday night, Sanders had 27 catches with four touchdowns.

— Clemson offered junior quarterback Christian LeMay of Matthews, N.C., last week. LeMay has a dozen offers already. Clemson also likes his teammate, linebacker Kris Frost, who attended the Kentucky at USC game.

— Defensive back Ricardo Allen of Daytona Beach, Fla., was scheduled for an official visit to Purdue over the weekend. He’d like to set a visit with USC. He’s also looking at Miami, Florida, Michigan and West Virginia.

— USC commitment wide receiver Sean Tapley of Jacksonville, Fla., will set official visits with North Carolina, Miami, Southern Miss and Ole Miss along with his USC trip.

— Offensive lineman Ed Christian of Valdosta, Ga., a former Florida State commitment who had been considering Clemson and USC, committed to Auburn on Saturday while on an unofficial visit there.

— Running back James White of Jacksonville, Fla., has taken official visits to Wisconsin and Iowa and plans to get to Clemson for a game, probably Florida State. He is scheduled for an official visit to N.C. State on Nov. 27. He’s focusing on Clemson, Wisconsin and Florida State.

— Clemson is keeping in touch with defensive back Chris Hughes of Mobile, Ala., who just returned to action after missing the first part of the season with a torn Achilles tendon. Hughes wants to visit Clemson, Ole Miss and Mississippi State. He favors the Bulldogs right now.

— Offensive lineman Duvan Milsap of Buford, Ga., has taken an official to Oklahoma State and has not decided on others. USC is still recruiting him and he also has offers from Clemson, Ole Miss, Mississippi State, East Carolina and Louisville.

— Denmark-Olar defensive lineman Kendrick Frazier plans to be at USC’s game Saturday. That will be his first game appearance anywhere this season. He’s also looking at Coastal Carolina, S.C. State, Alabama, Buffalo and Wisconsin and claims offers from each.

— Duke commitment linebacker Aramide Olaniyan of Woodberry Forest, Va., has set a visit with UCLA for Nov. 6. He’s also looking at Duke, Vanderbilt, Michigan, North Carolina, Oregon and Wake Forest for official visits, and he’s keeping in touch with Clemson as well and plans to get in for a game. He has been to games at North Carolina and Michigan.

— Athlete Ryan White of Tallahassee would like to take an official visit to USC, possibly for this weekend, but nothing has been scheduled. He’s also looking at Southern Miss, Georgia Tech, Iowa State and East Carolina. He planned to be at Florida Saturday for the Arkansas game.

— USC is working defensive lineman Richard Ash of Pahokee, Fla., for an official visit and he talked with recruiter G.A. Mangus last week. Ash has been officially to West Virginia and is also looking at Oklahoma State, Southern Cal, LSU, Rutgers, Minnesota, UCLA and South Florida.

— One-time USC target wide receiver Dyjuan Lewis of Indianapolis has trimmed his list to Kentucky, Cincinnati and Purdue.

— Fort Dorchester linebacker Geno Porter planned to be at Georgia Tech on Saturday for the Virginia Tech game. Georgia Tech has been showing interest along with Duke, N.C. State, The Citadel, Furman, Gardner-Webb, Presbyterian and Wofford. He’s not been offered. Going into Friday night Porter had 77 tackles and six sacks.

— South Pointe offensive lineman Jacob McQueen committed to Gardner-Webb on Saturday while on an unofficial visit for their game with Charleston Southern.

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Basketball news:

— Jason Morris, a 6-5 wing from Augusta, made his official visit to Clemson over the weekend. He had previously been to Clemson for unofficial visits. Morris is scheduled to visit Georgia Tech on Nov. 7 and plans to make his decision sometime after that visit. He is not claiming a favorite.

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