NY's No. 1 prospect commits to Clemson

David Hood by Senior Writer -

The Clemson coaching staff picked up commitment No. 16 for the 2013 recruiting cycle Friday evening when Ebenezer Ogundeko Ebenezer Ogundeko

Outside Linebacker

6-3, 230

Brooklyn, NY

View Full Profile gave his verbal to Clemson during the second quarter of Friday’s Under Armour All-American Game in St. Petersburg, Florida.

Ogundeko is a 4-star defensive end recruit out of Brooklyn (NY) Thomas Jefferson, and he chose Clemson over in-state Syracuse. He boasted over 25 offers, including Notre Dame, Florida, Ohio St., Stanford, Tennessee and West Virginia. He is listed as the No. 1 prospect in the state of New York according to many websites.

His commitment gives Clemson its third defensive end commitment in this cycle, joining Shaq Lawson – the nation’s No. 1 prep prospect – and North Carolina standout Dane Rogers Dane Rogers

Defensive End

6-3, 245

Shelby, NC

View Full Profile .

Ogundeko told a national television audience his reason for choosing Clemson shortly after he donned a purple Clemson cap with an orange Tiger paw.

“It’s the coaches, and I just felt comfortable there,” Ogundeko said. “It is not far from home. I am just ready to go there and compete in the ACC.”

He then said that he got attention from college coaches in Brooklyn – not known as a college football recruiting hotbed – by working hard.

“My coach sent out my highlight tape, and I just kept on working hard,” he said. “I went to a few camps and dominated at that. And I am here now and I thank God for it.”

Ogundeko was officially offered by the Clemson staff last fall, and took his official visit to the campus during the last weekend of November for the South Carolina game. He also took official visits to Arizona St. and Syracuse, but it appeared to be a three-team race between Clemson, Florida and Syracuse until his interest in Florida waned in December.

As a senior, he recorded 74 tackles and 17 sacks. As a junior, he recorded 79 tackles and 11 sacks.

Ogundeko is the second player to sign out of the state of New York the past two years, joining quarterback Chad Kelly, the No. 1 prospect out of the Empire State last recruiting cycle. He is also the first defensive lineman out of New York to sign with Clemson since Elsmore Gabriel signed in 2004.

Gabriel red-shirted in 2005, played as a reserve in 2006 (he garnered 31 snaps and tallied two tackles) and didn’t see game action in 2007. Following the 2007 season, he transferred to Western Carolina.