Big-time DE switches from Seminoles to Clemson

Defensive end Tavaris Barnes of First Coast High in Jacksonville, Fla., visited Clemson over the weekend and then switched his longstanding commitment with Florida State to the Tigers, according to several sources.

Barnes, who is 6-foot-5 and 250 pounds, is considered one of the top players at his position in the country. He is Clemson’s 21^st commitment for the class of 2010.

Barnes also had official visits set for North Carolina and FSU, but cancelled them, saying he had found everything he wanted at Clemson.

Despite missing four games with an injury as a senior, he totaled 80 tackles, including 30 for loss and ten sacks.

Clemson head coach Dabo Swinney continues to prove that the administration did not make a mistake by making the young assistant its head coach. He’s a remarkable closer as a recruiter.

--Stan Olson