Clemson Tigers add three more quality recruits

Two Hargrave Military Academy linemen—OL Laurence Gibson and DL Josh Watson—have dramatically strengthened the Tigers’ 2010 recruiting class with their commitments after visiting Clemson over the weekend, according to several sources.

And the Tigers have also landed one of the better in-state players in the Class of 2011, OL Shaq Anthony of Wren High in Piedmont.

While Watson was already a known quantity, Clemson and everyone else were impressed with Gibson at Hargrave’s recent winter combine, and the offers began pouring in.

Gibson measured 6-foot-6 and 296 pounds while running a 4.77-second 40-yard dash. He bench-pressed 225 pounds 23 times.

He picked Clemson over earlier offers from Virginia Tech and Auburn. Georgia, Mississippi St., Syracuse and Utah all offered after seeing him at the combine.

Watson, already highly thought-of, cancelled his last official visit—scheduled for North Carolina this weekend—after the Clemson trip.

He’s 6-5 and 260 pounds, and could play either defensive end or defensive tackle in college. Clemson, though, needs DTs.

Watson had already visited Boston College and Duke, and also had offers from Florida State, Virginia, West Virginia and Michigan State.

Anthony, who is 6-5 and 255 pounds, also had early offers from South Carolina and Georgia, according to CUTigers.com.

Clemson now has 20 commitments for 2010, and five for 2011.

--Stan Olson

Got recruiting news (visits, offers, commitments)? Pop it to me at solson@charlotteobserver.com.