HUNTER COOKSTON
Writer
The South Pittsburg football program has seen elite talent come through its ranks—especially in recent seasons—and last Thursday was no exception. JR Hardrick, one of the team’s top players, committed to ACC powerhouse Clemson. He had been scheduled for an official visit to Louisville on June 9, but that is no longer happening, as he is now fully committed to the Tigers.
Hardrick is a three-star prospect, according to the 247Sports Composite Rankings. The South Pittsburg standout is ranked No. 26 in the state of Tennessee and No. 844 nationally. He joins a Clemson recruiting class recently ranked No. 3 by ESPN.
During his recruitment, Hardrick took visits to Mississippi State, Wake Forest, Duke, and North Carolina. He visited Clemson on March 24, but it wasn’t until May 5 that he received an official offer from the program. Now, he’s joining one of college football’s elite teams, led by one of the top coaches in the game.
When explaining his decision, Hardrick emphasized the culture and personal growth opportunities at Clemson:
“The people you surround yourself with, that’s who will influence how you turn out, and I want to come out of a program being a better man than I am when I go in. I believe I will get that at Clemson,” Hardrick said.
The 6-foot-6 DE/TE is determined to bring a state championship back to South Pittsburg after falling just one game short last season. He’s aiming for another standout year before beginning his college career under Dabo Swinney and the Clemson Tigers.
