Clemson is catching fire -- again -- on the recruiting trail.

The Tigers padded their top-five recruiting haul in the 2026 Rivals Team Rankings with a commitment from in-state NICKEL defender Kentavion Anderson.

Anderson, an uber-talented hybrid defender from Roebuck (S.C.) Dorman High School, picked the Tigers over South Carolina.

"The Clemson culture, them being up the road ... it's a big draw," Anderson told Rivals earlier this spring. "I love that my parents get to come to my games."

The four-star NICKEL has been visiting Clemson's campus steadily since last summer, including a handful of game-day trips to Death Valley -- before finally collecting an offer from assistant Mickey Conn after the conclusion of his junior season.

Anderson has grown close with Conn, Dabo Swinney and first-year defensive coordinator Tom Allen over the course of the spring.

"Being around Coach Swinney -- he brings a lot of energy. He only offers a few guys a year, so if you get an offer then you're a guy," Anderson said. "They think I'm a great ball player. They tell me to keep working hard, and that they're ready for me to make a decision."

Clemson's culture has always resonated with Anderson.

His mind has been made up for weeks leading into this reveal.

"The Elite Retreat was amazing," he continued on his return to Clemson in March. "The coaches care about you. Watching their practices, they bring a lot of energy. They're not yelling; they're teaching their players. They're developing their players."

Anderson will be back on campus again for his May 30 official visit.

Stick a pin in this recruitment.