The wait is over for Ray-Ray McCloud III's decision.
The four-star athlete and one of the top players in Tampa Bay ended his recruitment on Monday, announcing his commitment to Clemson in a live 30-minute special on Bright House Sports Network. Surrounded by family, McCloud threw on a Tigers hat, ending the suspence and his recruitment.
“The first time I stepped on campus, I just fell in love with Clemson. I’ve been going to camp there for three years and loved it every time I went. Clemson just felt like the place for me,” McCloud said.
One of the elite high school football players in the country, McCloud has accounted for 3,635 yards and 15 touchdowns for Sickles the last two seasons. He was invited to Nike's "The Opening", a summer camp in Beaverton, Ore. hosting the nation's top 150 prospects.
“My relationship started with Clemson back in eight grade when (running back coach) Tony Elliot started recruiting my cousin who played at Tampa Catholic,” McCloud added. “From then on he said he was going to recruit me and sure enough, he came back the next year when I was in ninth grade. He kept his word and then I went up there for camp and fell in love with everything.”
McCloud III is the third Tampa-area football player to commit to the Tigers, joining Tampa Bay Tech's Deon Cain and Jake Fruhmorgen.
“It’s big for us to represent for our city and where we’re from.. I think we’ll be able to be successful at Clemson.”
Now that his decision is out of the way, McCloud can turn the focus back to the football field for his senior season, where his goal is to rush for 3,000 yards.
“I’m relieved, it’s a lot of weight off my back. I can now go into the season and not have to worry about recruiting,” he said.