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Clemson lands four-star Rodgers

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Clemson co-offensive coordinator Jeff Scott has once again gotten his man – this time from perhaps the unlikeliest of backgrounds.

Knoxville (Tenn.) Catholic four-star receiver Amari Rodgers revealed his commitment to Clemson early Sunday afternoon.

Rodgers is shown here in Sun Life Stadium taking in Clemson's Orange Bowl win over Oklahoma back on New Years Eve.
Rodgers is shown here in Sun Life Stadium taking in Clemson's Orange Bowl win over Oklahoma back on New Years Eve. (Tigerillustrated.com)
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Rodgers (5-9, 197), ranked No. 180 nationally by Rivals.com, picked the Tigers over stated finalists Tennessee, Florida State, Alabama and Wake Forest.

He is the son of former Tennessee quarterback and Southern California assistant coach Tee Martin, and Rodgers even committed to the Trojans during the summer.

But he withdrew that pledge two days after Clemson offered in early December, and indications pointed strongly in the Tigers’ favor since. Rodgers had been a projection to Clemson by Tigerillustrated.com for two weeks.

The Rivals250 member traveled to take in Clemson’s Orange Bowl victory in Fort Lauderdale, Fla. in December, and brought along his family for the Tigers’ Jan. 31 elite junior day two weeks ago.

Tennessee in particular has continued to heavily pursue Rodgers, who notched 61 catches for 1,651 yards and 23 touchdowns as a junior.

But position production and profile lent appeal to playing the “2” receiver position in Clemson’s offense, a la Artavis Scott and Ray-Ray McCloud. Jeff Scott recruited him relentlessly the last several months, plus Rodgers is friends with 2017 five-star quarterback Hunter Johnson – whom he befriended when Johnson was a Tennessee pledge.

Rodgers, ranked 25th nationally among wide receiver prospects and sixth overall regardless of position in the state of Tennessee, becomes the seventh commitment for Clemson’s 2017 class, including the fourth rated four-star or better.

Johnson, the nation's No. 1 pro-style QB recruit, is the Tigers' junior class headliner currently. Cincinnati (OH) offensive lineman commit Matt Bockhorst (6-5, 297), a four-star, is rated ninth nationally among offensive guard prospects. Hightstown (N.J.) line commit Noah DeHond (6-7, 325) is billed 35th nationally among offensive tackle prospects while Citra (Fla.) line pledge Blake Vinson (6-5, 285) is rated 37th nationally among tackles.

The Tigers are done at quarterback for the 2016-2017 cycle with four-star Chase Brice joining Johnson on the commit board. Brice is rated seventh nationally among pro-style QBs.

Also on the Tigers' junior commit board is three-star legacy prospect Baylon Spector, a 6-foot-2, 205-pound safety out of Calhoun (Ga.), billed 74th overall regardless of position in that state.

-- More intel on Amari Rodgers

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