2024 WR Debron Gatling Treated Like 'One of Players' On Clemson Visit
Over the past two weekends, Clemson has attracted some of the nation's most sought-after recruits in the 2023 and 2024 classes.
Wide receiver, Debron Gatling, was one of those players on campus Saturday, and the 2024 prospect told All Clemson that his conversations with head coach Dabo Swinney and receivers coach Tyler Grisham were things that stood out most.
"Probably the time I spent with coach Grisham and the conversation with coach Dabo," Gatling said. "And the facilities, really nice. I really liked that."
The biggest message the coaches had for the 5-foot-11, 180-pound wideout, out of Milton High in Alpharetta, Georgia, centered around being patient with the process, as the Tigers are meticulous when it comes to offering high school prospects.
Gatling already knows a couple of players currently on the Tigers roster, and due to that, he also came away with an open invitation to come back and sit in on a team meeting. Being treated like he was already a member of the program was something that also really made an impression.
"How Clemson does with the offer process," Gatling said. "And basically how they are gonna keep recruiting me and to come back anytime. You know, stay with one of the players. Because I trained with Dacari Collins up there. And I also know Nate Wiggins.
"They told me I could stay with one of those guys at any time and come to a meeting and sit in one of the meetings and stuff like that. Basically treated me like I was one of the players already."
Currently, Clemson, Alabama, Georgia. Ole Miss, Michigan and LSU are the teams recruiting him the hardest. Gatling still has spring visits planned for Georgia, Alabama and Ole Miss, and also hopes to get back to Clemson this summer for camp, giving him one more look into how Grisham coaches his wide receivers.
"I think I will come back up during the summertime to camp with coach Grisham again," Gatling said. "So he can coach me up and I can tell how he coaches and stuff like that one more time."
While Gatling is still fairly early on in the recruiting process, he already knows that he'd like to have a decision made sometime before the start of his senior season. Culture, stability in the coaching staff, and an opportunity at early playing time will all factor into that decision.
"Really looking for something that feels like home," Gatling said. "The coaches and if they'll be able to stay there the whole time and I'm there and I'm really looking for a place I can come in and produce early."
And when asked if he could see himself being one of the next members of Wide Receiver U, Gatling did not hesitate.
"Yes, I could definitely see myself going to Clemson."
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