One of the best in the 2026 class is already off the board.
Shavar Young, the No. 10-ranked athlete in the Rivals250 for next year’s recruiting cycle out of Knoxville (Tenn.) Webb School, committed to Clemson on Friday.
The electric 6-foot, 175-pound two-day standout from Tennessee made visits out to Miami and then Clemson last weekend. His trip back to Death Valley changed the timeline of his decision and inspired Young not to delay it any further.
“I was initially planning to commit on December 12, but after this last visit I got the feeling and was ready to pull the trigger,” Young told Rivals. “I love the way Clemson operates and I felt comfortable with the decision.”
Young’s early call in favor of the Tigers has been a long time in the making.
The Clemson staff has been cultivating a connection to one of Tennessee’s best since his eighth-grade year. Dabo Swinney and cornerbacks coach Mike Reed have been continuing to further their relationship with Young ever since.
“I fit in well with the Clemson culture,” he started. “The winning culture fits me. Not only do their guys win and succeed on the field, but they also win off the field.”
“Their goals of developing guys fit me,” Young continued. “It was a perfect match. You can truly tell that Dabo cares about his guys and is doing right by them.”
The talented four-star defensive back likes his fit on and off the field at Clemson.
Young knows the culture in place under Swinney and believes the Tigers will put him in the best position to reach his ceiling.
“I’ve had a relationship with Clemson since I was in the eighth grade, so I knew the standard going into the visit,” he explained.
“Meeting with Coach Swinney and Coach Reed solidified the decision for me,” Young noted. “They have proof of developing guys and putting them in the NFL. They also develop you off the field.”
