Top cornerback recruit set to announce commitment. Where Clemson stands

Everything’s bigger in Texas – including Clemson football.
Four-star cornerback recruit Corian Gipson is weighing that influence as he nears his Saturday commitment date with the Tigers as one of his three finalists.
Clemson’s had notable success recruiting the Lone Star State in recent cycles, with at least one Texas signee in four straight classes.
But things aren’t as straightforward as that with Gipson, the No. 67 recruit in the Class of 2024 according to the 247Sports composite.
On one hand, Gipson has described Clemson as a dream school and expressed his appreciation for the program’s consistency – this is cornerbacks coach Mike Reed’s 11th season on staff – and heavy focus on “life after football.”
On the other hand, the Tigers are far away from his Lancaster (Tex.) High School. Like, a 13.5-hour, 905-mile drive away – 10 hours further than Texas, the biggest football brand in the state and another one of his three finalists.
That’ll all come to a head Saturday as Gipson announces his college choice between Clemson, Ohio State and Texas and give one of those three teams a major 2024 recruiting boost.
Gipson’s leanings remain a little murky. The On3 Sports Recruiting Prediction Machine and four of that website’s experts are heavily predicting he’ll choose Texas.
But Gipson also has three 247Sports Crystal Ball predictions to choose Clemson (albeit none from national reporters) and a prediction to land at Clemson from Rivals.
The nation’s No. 7 cornerback recruit took official visits to Clemson, TCU, Ohio State and Texas in that order in June and will be picking from Clemson, Ohio State and Texas, he told On3.
Clemson has been courting Gipson for about a year and offered him a scholarship in March. He also attended the team’s blowout June 2-4 official visit weekend, reserved for a few dozen top recruiting targets in the 2024 class.
That on-campus experience – which swayed five-star linebacker Sammy Brown and five-star wide receiver Bryant Wesco into early Clemson commitments – also had an effect on Gipson.
Clemson defensive backs coach Mike Reed coaches against South Carolina during the 1st quarter Saturday, November 24, 2018 at Clemson’s Memorial Stadium.
Clemson, according to 247Sports, was viewed as Gipson’s recruitment leader coming off that weekend. But that momentum has waned, especially with Texas – a longtime player in his recruitment – hosting the cornerback for his final official visit.
247Sports’ Mike Roach reported Tuesday that while sources close to Gipson maintain Clemson and Ohio State are his top two choices, there are some “interesting dynamics at play” with Gipson and the Longhorns.
Namely, he has a number of friends on or committed to the team pushing for a Texas commitment and he and his family have been weighing proximity and how easy – or not easy – it would be to see him play on any given fall Saturday.
“It’s hard to count the Longhorns totally out of it,” Roach wrote.
Gipson, a decorated track athlete who also has the versatility to play safety, would be a big addition for Texas, which has the nation’s No. 21-ranked recruiting class per 247Sports. Clemson’s at No. 11 and Ohio State is at No. 2, only trailing Georgia.
Clemson’s recent run of College Football Playoff success (six appearances and two national championships from 2015-20) has helped the Tigers and coach Dabo Swinney recruit nationally in far-away states including Texas and contend for recruits such as Gipson.
After signing only three players from Texas from 2000-19, Clemson has signed six players from the Lone Star State since 2020, including current starting quarterback Cade Klubnik in 2022.
Other recent Clemson signees via Texas include safety R.J. Mickens (2020); safety Andrew Mukuba (2021); and offensive lineman Harris Sewell, offensive lineman Ian Reed and wide receiver Noble Johnson (2023).
Clemson also holds a 2024 commitment from Wesco, a five-star recruit who plays at Midlothian (Tex.) High School and is ranked No. 16 overall in the 247Sports composite.
How to watch Corian Gipson commit
What: Corian Gipson commitment ceremony
When: Saturday around 5 p.m. ET
Where: Lancaster High School, Texas
Stream: Dave Campbell’s Texas Football YouTube channel
Clemson 2024 football commitments
4-star CB Tavoy Feagin
3-star K Nolan Hauser
4-star TE Christian Bentancur
3-star DL Champ Thompson
4-star S Noah Dixon
3-star RB David Eziomume
3-star LB Drew Woodaz
4-star Hevin Brown-Shuler
5-star LB Sammy Brown
4-star WR TJ Moore
5-star WR Bryan Wesco
3-star DE Darien Mayo
4-star S Ricardo Jones
3-star OT Ronan O’Connell
3-star DE Adam Kissayi
3-star CB Ashton Hampton