Clemson Takes Former USC 4-Star Commit WR Amari Rodgers out of Volunteers Backyard
Written by Ryan Wright
Twitter: @HogManInLA
The wild world of recruiting could be summed up in the recruitment of Amari Rodgers. Rodgers, a 4-star wide receiver, was a one-time commitment to USC living in Knoxville (TN) but committed to Clemson on Valentine’s Day. If the oddities or complex dynamics of the different teams are not enough on the surface, Rodgers is the son of Tee Martin, former BCS Championship winning quarterback for the Volunteers and a current assistant on the Trojans staff.
Rodgers was part of an 11-4 team in 2015 at Catholic High School in Knoxville. The 5’10”, 195 pound, athlete lined up at running back and wide receiver being a jack of all trades for the Fighting Irish. He caught the most attention at wide receiver compiling a stat line of 61 receptions for 1,570 yards with 31 touchdowns.
USC picked up Rodgers commitment choosing to play for his dad at USC but once all of the craziness around Steve Sarkisian’s dismissal started to take its toll on the recruiting trail during the season, several players decommitted opting to go elsewhere. By Dec. 9, Rodgers had decommitted leaving speculation that perhaps new head coach Clay Helton was going to let go of Tee Martin, otherwise why would son not want to play for father at one of the pillars of college football in one of the best media markets in the country?
When Rodgers decommitted, more offers started to roll in with Florida State, Alabama, and Cal joining in the mix with teams like Duke, Vanderbilt, Wake Forest, Memphis, and LSU. On Feb. 4, Rodgers posted his Top 5 on Twitter naming Tennessee, Florida State, Clemson, Wake Forest, and Alabama in the mix, and yes, the Trojans were left out.
Clemson’s 2017 recruiting class is off to a great start with seven commitments anchored by 5-star quarterback Hunter Johnson. Matt Bockhorst, Chase Brice, and Rodgers are all considered 4-star recruits laying the foundation for another Top 10 class come National Signing Day 2017.
Clemson Tigers 2017 Verbal Commitment List
DB Baylon Spector, 6-2, 205, Calhoun HS, Calhoun, GA
QB Hunter Johnson, 6-3, 205, Brownsburg HS, Brownsburg, IN
QB Chase Brice, 6-2, 195, Grayson HS, Loganville, GA
OG Matt Bockhorst, 6-5, 295, St. Xavier HS, Cincinnati, OH
OT Noah DeHond, 6-7, 325, The Peddie School, Hightstown, NJ
OG Blake Vinson, 6-5, 285, North Marion HS, Citra, FL
WR Amari Rodgers, 5-9, 197, Catholic HS, Knoxville, TN
Photo credit: knoxnews.com; No. 3 Amari Rodgers.