Clemson OL Target Looking to Win, Not Early Playing Time or NIL - Waldrep is set to announce a commitment on July 10

Mal Walderp has been drawing interest from some of the biggest college football programs in the country and the 3-star talent, out of Central (Phenix City, Al), has now whittled that long list down to four finalists.

Clemson, Alabama, Tennessee and Florida will all draw official visits, with Waldrep set to announce a decision on his birthday of July 10.

The 6-foot5, 320-pound recruit was last on campus for the Elite Retreat back in January and for Waldrep, one of the biggest things that always stands out about Clemson is that culture.

“The hospitality and then the feeling of having all those great recruits there together,” Waldrep told The Clemson Insider. “I was just kind of visualizing what it would really be like if we were all there. And having all the commits around us and hanging out with all the players and really getting to know a bunch of the coaches. The best part was going to coach (Dabo) Swinney’s house after.”

Walderp wasn’t the only prominent offensive linemen on campus that weekend. 5-star David Sanders, 4-star Chauncey Gooden and 3-star Gavin Blanchard are the still uncommitted prospects that also attended the event.

“If you could get just a few of those offensive linemen that were there, because the offensive linemen that were there were no doubt probably the best group of offensive linemen in the country,” Waldrep said. “Just to have a select few those guys on one team would just be awesome.”

And since that last visit, his first with Matt Luke on staff, that relationship with the Tigers’ new offensive line coach has really started to blossom.

“It’s just taken off from like day one. He just started hitting me up, hitting me up,” Waldrep said. “We started that relationship really fast and it’s gotten really good. We talk a lot, probably once or twice a week. We’re really in contact every day but we get on the phone once or twice a week. We talk ball, life, Clemson, we talk about everything and I look forward to spending more time with him on my official visit.”

While Waldrep has some family ties to Alabama, he also has ties to Clemson that go back a long way. His grandfather played at the school for legendary coach Frank Howard. However, that is only part of what makes Clemson special in his eyes.

“I can’t even explain it,” Waldrep said. “I honestly just fell in love with Clemson since I first went up there. The relationship I’ve had with coach Swinney and how everything has just been growing since freshman year. They’re the best team in ACC in my mind. Just the feeling I get every single time I go up there and it just grows on me more and more like family.”

Waldrep has a very specific set of criteria he is looking for as he gets set to take this last round of visits, and unlike some other high school recruits in today’s landscape, it has nothing to do with money and nothing to do with immediate playing time.

“I’m looking for where I’m going to be most successful,” Waldrep said. “Whether that’s development, whether that’s just me being happy. I’m not necessarily looking for playing early or NIL money. I’m looking to be developed and I’m looking to win. I’m looking for winners for sure.”

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