Clemson lands 2023 4-Star Defensive End from Alabama

Clemson picked up their second commit in 17 hours when Tomarrion Parker‍ announced his decision Monday. Parker is a dominant athlete from Central High School in Phenix City, Alabama- where he was coached by Patrick Nix (Bo’s dad).

The 6’4, 245-pound Edge defender chose the Tigers over his three other finalists, Tennessee, Penn State, and Texas A&M. Parker was initially committed to Penn State but re-opened his recruitment on August 8. Clemson offered him the following day, and since then, there was speculation Parker was a “Clemson lean.”

The Tigers had stiff competition for Parker- who was the nation’s fourth-highest-rated uncommitted Edge in the 2023 class. On top of his previous ties to Penn State, he visited Tennessee to watch their win against Alabama, and the Vols appeared to gain traction in his recruitment when they made his top four schools list after the visit.

Parker was an official visitor for Clemson’s top-15 win over Syracuse on October 22. The Tigers made a positive impression on him during the visit, which helped the program close out his recruitment on a strong note.

After a ceremony at his school Monday morning, the four-star closed his recruitment and posted this on Twitter:

No one has done it better:

Clemson’s coaching duo of Nick Eason and Lemanski Hall made the difference in Parker’s recruitment. Coaches and recruits have spoken highly of Eason in recent months since he joined the program, praising his approachability, “family vibe,” and love for Clemson. Parker’s pledge is another major recruiting win for Eason and Hall in this cycle. After announcing his commitment, Parker tweeted this about that coaching duo: 

As is typically the case at Clemson, it wasn’t just coaches doing the recruiting. 2023 five-star quarterback commit Christopher Vizzina‍ has both publicly and privately worked to help the Tigers add Parker to the class. He’s interacted often with the four-star Edge on Twitter and rallied the support of Clemson nation several times throughout the fall:

After Parker’s commitment, Vizzina told Clemson Sports Talk, “I'm super excited. It’s been hard to keep a secret. He plays with a lot of speed. Extremely athletic, as well."

No school has recruited defensive linemen and Edge defenders better than Clemson in the 2023 class. Three of Clemson’s top four commits are at those positions, and the Tigers have four DL/Edge commits in the top 135 of the On3 national rankings.

There’s been a “perfect storm” for Clemson while recruiting those positions this year. Clemson’s history and high current talent level at the position, combined with a likable coaching staff and the opportunity for immediate playing time, is highly favorable to Clemson. In addition, with several defensive stars leaving for the NFL after the season, Clemson seized the momentum to build the deepest defensive line class in the nation.

Turn on the tape:

Parker is a consensus four-star, top-200 prospect on every major recruiting website. He has insane athleticism, a knack for getting after the quarterback, and the potential to play early in his career at Clemson.

One game that stands out to me on tape is his performance in Central High School’s nationally televised showdown against IMG in late September. Parker found a way to put his stamp on the game early against a collection of the nation’s top talent. He recorded eight tackles, one sack, and two tackles for loss. He also had two catches for 90 yards and a touchdown.

After watching him take on IMG in person, it was clear that Parker isn’t your average defensive lineman. He had an 85-yard receiving touchdown in the first half. After making a catch in open space, he showcased stellar breakaway speed to outrun a trio of IMG defenders en route to the end zone.

Defensively, Parker’s explosive burst and strong hands make me believe he can play early at Clemson. He practically lived in the backfield during his high school career. The four-star absolutely has the physical traits to be an elite defensive player in the ACC.

If you’d like to see for yourself, here’s a link to his highlights from that game:

Following Parker’s commitment, Clemson moves up to No. 1 in the ACC and No. 9 overall in the On3 team recruiting rankings. Parker is the team’s twenty-second commit in the class.