4-star DB Tae Harris commits to Clemson: 'Death Valley, here I come'
Cedartown (Ga.) four-star cornerback Tae Harris decommitted from Georgia on Jan. 21. Following that decision, Clemson extended an offer to the 6-foot-0, 180-pound defensive back. Less than a month after backing off his pledge to the Bulldogs, Harris set an official visit to the Tigers from May 31-June 2.
He quickly built strong relationships with head coach Dabo Swinney, co-defensive coordinator/safeties coach Mickey Conn and special teams coordinator/cornerbacks coach Mike Reed. That gave him the confidence to commit to Clemson over Georgia Tech and LSU on Monday.
“Mentally, I have known it was Clemson,” Harris told On3. “Everywhere I would go, I would compare it to Clemson. I looked at the different schools and I would say, ‘These schools have to beat Clemson.’ Nobody beat them. They kept standing at the top. Every box is checked by Clemson.”
Harris knew that Clemson was the right schools his last visit
Harris has already visited the Tigers twice. He will be back in Death Valley on April 6 for the spring game, then for his official visit in a few months. He liked how Clemson made him “feel wanted” by having coaches call him every day.
The No. 27 player in Georgia let the Tigers’ coaches know that he was choosing the ACC program on Sunday. Yet he knew he was picking Clemson after seeing the school on March 9.
“After my last visit to Clemson, I felt it,” said Harris, the No. 194 overall prospect and No. 26 cornerback in the 2025 On3 Industry Ranking. “I wanted to sleep on it, think about it and make sure, but I talked with my mom and I know Clemson is right. I am 100% locked in with Clemson and my recruitment is shut down. It is over for me. Death Valley, here I come.”
Harris is excited to play for Dabo Swinney
After reopening his recruitment, Harris was focused on choosing a program where he felt great and could see himself playing college football. The four-star gradually realized that the best school for him was Clemson.
“I am home at Clemson and I can be most developed there,” Harris said. “It came down to the culture and the people. Coach Swinney has a high character. He hires guys with a high character and I get to play for the best people that are in it for their players.”
The Tigers’ coaches have told Harris that they want him to play safety. He is looking forward to that opportunity. Harris speaks with current Clemson safety Khalil Barnes often, and he is ready to learn from him.
Now that Harris is the newest member of Clemson’s 2025 recruiting class, he is “ready to go in and play for the great program that is coached by great people.” One of the individuals he is most looking forward to learning from is Swinney.
“Dabo is the best,” Harris said. “He is very honest, he does things the right way and he is someone I look up to as a man. He is not going to lie, he is genuine and it is exciting to play for him.”