Interview with nation’s No. 2 RB Clemson commitment Tavien Feaster

Since Dabo Swinney’s unlikely and dramatic rise as the head coach of Clemson in 2008 the Tigers have been a team on the brink of elite success. In 2009 Clemson went 9-5 then had their only losing season under the former Alabama collegiate wide receiver in 2010 after a 31-26 Meinkeke Car Care Bowl loss to South Florida. After the 6-7 season the Tigers have won 10 or more games in four straight years in a large part due to the consistent top notch recruiting classes Swinney has brought to campus.

Clemson’s 2015 class was rated No. 4 in the nation by Rivals and the 2016 class is well on the way to being a Top 5 class as well thanks to guys like WR T.J. Chase (IMG Academy), QB Zerrick Cooper (Jonesboro HS), OL Sean Pollard (Pinecrest HS), WR Cornell Powell (Rose HS), and stud IMG Academy linebacker Rashaun Smith.

The one early talent that fits a running back mold to a T under Swinney in his last six full seasons at the helm is homegrown talent Tavien Feaster. Feaster is in line of past high profile tailbacks like James Davis, C.J. Spiller, Jamie Harper, and Andre Ellington.

In 2011 and 2012 Andre Ellington was a beast going over 1,000 yards in both seasons and proving to be a worthy pass receiving option in the offense pulling down 36 total passes for 341 yards during his junior and senior seasons. But perhaps the more appropriate, yet unfair comparison, for Feaster to Swinney’s immediate past is 2009 ACC Player of the Year C.J. Spiller.

Spiller was listed at 5’11”, 200 pounds, and came from Union County High as an all-purpose back who rushed for 1,840 yards with 30 touchdowns and caught 15 passes for another 249 yards during his senior season earning First-Team Parade All-American honors. Spiller was blessed with ridiculous speed winning the Florida 2A 100 and 200 meter state titles.

Ladies and Gentlemen, may I now introduce to you Tavien Feaster.

Feaster is a 5’11”, 197 pound, flash of light with the ball in his hands. Being a true all-purpose back he rushed for 1,153 yards with 15 touchdowns as a junior and hauled in 45 passes for another 1,016 yards with 11 touchdowns making him a true double-double. He also had one pick returned for a touchdown and scooped up two fumbles taking those to the house for a total of 28 touchdowns in 2014.

Some readers unfamiliar with Feaster may wonder if 2014 was just a flash in the pan, a lucky kind of year – it was not. As a sophomore for Spartanburg High School he rushed for 1,429 yards with 15 touchdowns. Laying the groundwork as a 1,000 yard double-double threat he caught 44 passes for 723 yards with 12 more scores.

The phone calls and emails started rolling in for the South Carolina native with teams like Alabama, Auburn, Florida, Florida State, Georgia, North Carolina, Notre Dame, Penn State, South Carolina, and Tennessee all throwing out offers but Clemson landed the No. 2 ranked RB in the nation per 247Sports.

In a Recruiting News Guru exclusive interview we sat down with the immensely talented Class of 2016 running back covering Spartanburg’s championship season in 2014, his offseason workouts, recruiting, and how the Vikings look headed into next season.

 

Tavien, the state title the Vikings brought home in 2014 did not start out on a positive note. You lost the first game of the season 58-56 in overtime to Eastern Christian Academy. You guys won two in a row then lost to Greenwood 17-2 beat Riverside 40-17 and then drop another tough one to Byrnes 45-41. Did the team have faith that you could still win a championship after starting the season 3-3?

“We knew we were going to be pretty special after the 2013 season and the way our 7×7 team played. We had a balanced on offense. Our sophomore year was good. Our wide receivers and quarterback (Austin Scott) were clicking. After we lost those three games we won four games and made a run for the state championship.”

How does the team look heading into next season?

“We look pretty strong. We lost one of our best players and a couple of our receivers but the majority of the team is coming back and some great playmakers.”

You mentioned your quarterback was clicking with the receivers. Austin Scott had a tremendous year passing for 4,401 yards with 52 touchdowns. You accounted for 723 of those yards and 12 of those touchdowns. Will the passing game be as potent in 2015 as it was in 2014?

“We have an outstanding unit. We also have a great receiver in Tavaris Scott (68 receptions, 1,275 yards, 17 touchdowns). Austin and I, we know each other like the back of our hands. We improvise on the spot. It’s just something we got going on. From the moment since we first met each other we’ve been clicking like that. He’s a great quarterback and he makes plays.”

Your dynamic running the ball and catching the ball, breakdown what are your strengths on the field at running back?

“I’m really good at catching the ball out of the backfield. I’m an every down back. I can catch the ball, I can run it up the middle, or I can run it on the outside. I’m explosive off my cuts and I can make people miss.”

What are your goals for the 2015 football season?

“Our goal is to go undefeated and I want to be the best I can be.”

Do you have any goals you want to reach in the stat department?

“Yes sir, I’m definitely trying to get 2,000 rushing yards this season.”

I did the quick math earlier, you guys were scoring an average of 52 points a game and the defense was only giving up 22 points. If you guys keep destroying teams at the same rate you’ll get pulled early each game and never come close to 2,000 yards.

“Yeah, I know. If we run the ball – if I get the ball 15 times in a game. We’re explosive on offense and score quickly. I’m hoping I can get 1,000 yards by mid-season. I’m just hoping.”

Will you have an expanded role on the team next year?

“I was on kick and punt return last year until I got a shoulder injury. I’ll return kicks this year. I’ll play some more defensive back if needed.”

If you guys keep getting out ahead of everyone they won’t need you on defense. No sense in getting you hurt.

“(Laughs) Yes sir.”

Will you start in the secondary this year?

“I don’t know. I didn’t start playing defense until the end of the year when we started playing passing teams.”

Did the schools come right at you trying to wear you out so you would not be so explosive on offense?

“No, they shied away from me. I was shutting down other team’s vertical receivers, and on the comebacks. If the ball is in the air long enough I’m fast enough I’ll get there. They stopped throwing to my side.”

What was your best game in 2014?

“My best game was the state championship game (versus York). They were loading the box but I still had 93 yards rushing and I was over 100 receiving. I had three touchdowns in the game and one interception.” (Beat York 49-28).

Let’s talk a little bit about recruiting. You have 10 offers on the table. You committed to Clemson on February 4. What influenced you to commit when you did?

“It just felt like the perfect thing to do at the time. Today I still support my decision. There is a great family feel there. Coach Swinney is a great coach. His personality trickles down the staff. With Coach (Tony) Elliot (co-offensive coordinator/running backs coach) he’s a great running backs coach. I believe he’s the right guy to lead me in this part of my life.”

Do you still plan on taking your official visits to other schools?

“I really don’t think I’m going to take any official visits to any other schools as of right now. Well if things don’t change. If things change then yeah I will but as of right now, no sir I don’t think I’ll take any other visits.”

You mentioned something would have to change in order for you to take an official visit to another school other than Clemson. What is that change that would have to happen?

“If they recruit another back, they said they were not going to recruit another back.”

What schools are still after you trying to flip you?

“Georgia and Tennessee.”

What are they doing to try to sway you to their program?

“They’ve visited school. They keep telling me about the history of their programs.”

Are you going to any college camps this summer?

“No.”

You’re a fast guy, do you also run track for Spartanburg?

“Yes.”

What events?

“The 4×1, 100, 200, 4×4, and sometimes the 400.”

What is your best time in the 200 meters?

“21.1”

What is your best time in the 100?

“10.42.”

What are you doing in the offseason to keep your strength and speed up?

“Running track and lifting weights. I’m trying to get bigger, faster, and stronger.”

What is your favorite part about playing football?

“Bonding with the guys. Winning with the guys you grew up with. Just having fun, and winning.”

 

As a reader if you are still not sold on Tavien’s talent consider that he has a hand-held clocked 4.25 forty-yard dash registered. Still not enough? Rivals rates him as the No. 3 running back in the nation and 247Sports has him as the second best in the nation.

Need more? How about his post season honors last year including but not limited to All-State, Player of the Year, MVP, Max Prep All-American, and Army All-American.

Feaster could be one of the rare running backs to challenge Brian Westbrook’s collegiate mark at I-AA Villanova as a double-double guy with over 1,000 yards receiving and 1,000 yards rushing. Opposing ACC teams, you’ve been put on notice.

Written by Ryan Wright

Photo credit: thestate.com; No. 28 Tavien Feaster breaks lose for a long run

Photo credit: tigernet.com; No. 28 Tavien Feaster works at a camp

Photo credit: sc.milesplit.com; No. 28 Tavien Feaster gets around the end