Clemson offers 4-in-1 deal, recruit says

The Tigers' coaches have extended a scholarship offer to four Benjamin Russell High School prospects in Alexander City, Ala., according to one of the prospects, Michael Goggans.

Goggans said the proposal includes scholarship offers to defensive end Demetrius Culpepper, linebacker LaBronski Hutchins, quarterback Martevious Young and Goggans, who plays tight end and defensive end. Goggans and Young visited Knoxville for UT's senior camp on June 17.

Culpepper, Hutchins and Goggans are bona fide SEC prospects. They already have received a handful of scholarship offers from SEC schools, including Tennessee.

College coaches don't seem as sure about Young. He said he has received scholarship offers from Clemson and Louisville. UT still is evaluating him.

Young admits that Clemson's proposal is enticing even before he has visited the campus of the ACC school. Young visited UT last week as part of the Vols senior camp.

"I think it's a pretty good school with nice facilities," Young said.

Young, who is 6-foot-2 and 170 pounds, said most schools are recruiting him as a quarterback, which is his preference.

"With his size, I think the Tennessee coaches told him he needs to gain a little weight and work on his speed a little bit," Goggans said. "I don't know how that situation sits with him and Tennessee."

Goggans, the highest-rated prospect of the quartet, said his interest in Clemson has waned despite the package deal. Still, the prospect of playing with three of his high school teammates is enticing.

"I'll look at it, but I think I'll choose the school that fits me the best," Goggans said. "If it were to come down to the coaches offering (Young), Culpepper, Hutchins and me as a packaged deal to Tennessee, I believe that's where all of us will go because Tennessee is pretty high on their list, too.

"(Clemson head coach) Tommy Bowden called down here and gave us a package deal. We were considering that. That would be great for all of us to go to the same school. We talk about it a lot. But I don't know right now. Tennessee is recruiting me pretty hard. They've been on top for a while and I think I'm going to keep them there."

UT also appears to be in good shape with Culpepper if they can overcome some Alabama loyalties.

"They had the No. 1 defensive line this past year, I've been looking up on that," the 6-foot-4, 225-pounder said. "They've got a reputation in Knoxville. Let's go ahead and keep it going.

"I'd fit in well. They go all-out (on defense). It's a wild bunch and that's right down my alley."

UT may have impressed Culpepper, but his family isn't completely sold on the Vols. Culpepper said he has felt plenty of pressure from his family to choose Auburn thanks, in part, to proximity. Auburn's campus is 40 miles from Alexander City.

"They're already trying to lean on me but I'm not leaning with them," he said. "I'm just trying to scope it out and see what's best.

"(Auburn) is just a family name. Mostly everybody from Alexander City usually goes to Auburn. It's close to home and I've been a fan my whole life."

Culpepper said he intends to seek counsel from his cousin, Scottie Vines, who plays for the Detroit Lions. Vines went through the recruiting process before deciding to play his college football at Wyoming.

"I always talk with him and see what's going on," Culpepper said. "He just tells me what to expect He told me to look at the depth charts of all the schools that are recruiting me and see if I'm going to really be able to play. I want to play end. Some colleges still try to recruit you when they don't need an end."

Goggans said the recruiting door opened for UT when Alabama delayed its scholarship offer.

"In the beginning, Tennessee jumped on me pretty hard," he said. "They offered me pretty early. I grew up an Alabama fan. They offered about two or three weeks ago. Alabama probably would be on top because I was an Alabama fan growing up. But since they offered two or three weeks ago, that put Tennessee on top.

"I've always heard good things about Tennessee. They have a great tradition, great program, and they show a lot of pride in everything they do. That's just kept them on top.

Josh Ward contributed to this report.