CB Andrew Booth has become the third ESPN 300 verbal for Clemson since Friday and is now the Tigers' top-rated recruit. Read on to see why Booth could make an early impact in Death Valley.
What he brings: Booth is a physically impressive prospect. He will not wow you on paper, but the four-star has a broad frame and sturdy build with good length. He more than just looks the part, though. He is an athletic, confident and instinctive player. He is a big corner with quick feet who runs well and displays a nice burst to close on the ball. Booth has the size to defend and win jump ball battles and also uses his size well to be a physical presence in the secondary.
How he fits: This a very nice addition for Clemson, landing one of the top corners in this class out of Georgia. While they have some good, young depth on the roster, Booth is a key pickup for the Tigers with current CB Mark Fields is heading into his senior season and CB Trayvon Mullen heading into his junior year. The value Booth can add is two-fold. First, he is athletic and physically developed enough to be able to come in and contribute both in the secondary and on special teams. Secondly, his size, physical nature and athleticism make him a good candidate to be a versatile defender with ability to contribute at corner or safety.
Reminds us of: Booth reminds us some of former Ohio State DB Malik Hooker. Like the former Buckeye, Booth possesses good size with a nice frame and can be a productive, playmaking presence in the secondary with a blend of instincts, physical play and very good ball skills. However, Booth could see an opportunity to contribute a little quicker then Hooker did when he arrived in Columbus.
How the class is shaping up: Clemson had a top-10 class last year, despite signing just 17 players, and another top-10 class is looking like a strong bet with full class numbers available. On the heels of signing the top-rated pocket passer in 2018, Clemson has another ESPN 300 QB on board for this year in Taisun Phommachanh out of Connecticut. The class also includes several future targets for the QB, including one of the top WR prospects in the class in Frank Ladson Jr. out of South Florida, and ESPN 300 Joe Ngata out of Northern California. In addition to Ladson and Hgata, the Tigers have top-10 RB prospect Chez Mellusi. Four-star TE Jaelyn Lay is tall and can offer a big catch radius and be a red zone weapon. On the offensive line, four-star guard Hunter Rayburn was one of the fastest-rising prospects in May. Defensively, the class includes a pair of safeties, led by ESPN 300 defender Joseph Charleston. The secondary also adds one of the top CB prospects in the class in Andrew Booth out of Georgia. ESPN 300 linebackers Bryton Constantin and LaVonta Bentley are need fillers out of Louisiana and Alabama. Three-star DT Etinosa Reuben is a name to remember down the line.