Zero Stars. No Problem. Carvers Bay's Zyon Guiles Gets Dream Offer
Clemson has made offers to a few 2026 recruits this week and Zyon Guiles announced his offer via Twitter X on Wednesday.
The 6-foot-5, 293-pound offensive lineman from Carvers Bay Early College and Career High School (SC), who competed at Dabo Swinney’s Camp on Wednesday, is unique compared to the other prospects.
He was offered despite having a zero-star rating across the board with all major recruiting services (ESPN, 247Sports, On3, Rivals).
Guiles was asked about the offer.
"It's special. I feel good."
He was also asked about the ratings.
"Honestly, I don't pay any attention to that. There have been a few coaches tell me stars and rankings are for the fans," said Guiles. "They said they like to see what's on the field and not on a website. Personally, I feel they [recruiting services] don't know me and they don't know who's better than me. They just know who they feel is better by the offers."
Before the Clemson offer, Guiles had offers from Coastal Carolina, North Carolina Central, N.C. State, Old Dominion, South Carolina State, The Citadel, Virginia Tech, and Wake Forest. Since the offer, South Carolina and USF called and moved his offers list total to 11.
Also before the Tigers offered, according to Guiles' dad, Johnathan Guiles, Prep Zone was the only recruiting agency listing Guiles with any stars. The agency gave him three stars. Well, they were joined by another recruiting service after news of the offer hit social media.
Johnathan received a recruiting update on his phone while discussing the lack of stars with me on Wednesday night.
"[Do] you want me to tell you something that will make you laugh?" He quipped."Rivals just rated him three stars."
We shared a quick laugh because we debated earlier in the conversation whether the Clemson offer could lead to stars.
Johnathan traveled with Guiles from Georgetown County to camp on Wednesday and last summer to Clemson along with trips to Coastal Carolina, Furman, Georgia, Georgia State, and South Carolina with no expectations but an undeniable purpose.
"So it's pretty much to get the experience, gain knowledge of the game, and get that look from coaches," said Johnathan, a former Choppee High (Choppee combined with Pleasant Hill High in 2000 to form Carvers Bay) and South Carolina State offensive lineman, as he explained why he travels to various camps.
"And then from there, build on that and come back the next year so they could see how much he improved," Johnathan added. "And that's what they [Clemson] thought today. He's always had great feet and a great attitude, but this year they were able to actually see the difference in the way he transitioned with his body from 246 to 293 pounds."
Clemson head coach Dabo Swinney saw enough on Wednesday to deliver the offer himself. Johnathan recalled the moment in Swinney’s office.
"Dabo sat down with Zyon and said, 'The person I saw out there today has great feet, has a great body, has the mind, and the attitude. And from what I'm seeing and hearing, this is where you want to be, so I'm giving you an opportunity -- A Full Ride.'"
"When I heard that it made the hair stand up on my back. Zyon put his hand over his face and his head down. It was an emotional event. I became emotional."
"Clemson has always been my dream school," said Guiles about receiving the offer from his favorite coach and school since a visit to the campus as a fifth grader. "It's what I've been working for all along."
Even though the Clemson offer is 'special,' Guiles said he's still early in the process, uncommitted, and open to all offers.
"It's all coming at me fast. I just got three offers today. I'm still open. I will always have love for Clemson but Dabo might decide to retire or take another job before 2026. You never know what could happen."
Since Wednesday, Guiles hasn't received any new offers and only On3 joined Rivals to make him a three-star recruit. But he's unfazed and remains focused instead on improving as a player.
"Having stars is great but I'm not really focused on that," noted Guiles, "I have self-confidence but in the most humblest way possible. I'm never going to stop working."
Guiles will also travel to compete at FSU and UNC camps this summer.