The boy can't help it; Clemson's in his blood

Bloodlines run deep. Dads and moms pass their genes down to the young’uns, and so it is with Zack Inge of the Carolina Pride. Inge’s father Mark played right guard for Clemson from 1985 through ’89, and Zack has inherited the old man’s drive and agility.

The Pride is a Christian-oriented program featuring home-schooled kids that plays in a private school league, the Carolina Independent Athletic Association. And last year as a sophomore, Inge tore up that conference from his nose guard and defensive tackle spots, making 18 sacks and winning all-conference honors. He also played offensive line.

Zack is already 6-foot-2 and 265 pounds, enough to catch the eye of many a recruiter. But Clemson has a head start. The Tigers remember his daddy and are recruiting Zack heavily, Pride coach Henry Leopard said today.

“Appalachian and Wingate are also recruiting him hard, and N.C. State has shown some interest,” Leopard said. “He is very, very strong and a great defensive player.”

Inge weighs 265 pounds but he can move that load rapidly, and has run a 5.1 40-yard dash. The colleges are looking at him as an interior defensive lineman.

Things could change, but right now Clemson is the leader. Zack, in fact, just returned from Clemson's camp today, and told his dad he had made a good impression. Must be all that orange blood in the family. –Stan Olson