Corey Clement: 2013 Wisconsin Football Recruiting Class

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For a program that loses the NCAA's all-time touchdown king in Montee Ball, Wisconsin is in as good a position as possible to simply reload for years to come. Corey Clement out of Glassboro, NJ, just south of Philadelphia, is the next bell cow in the tradition. The seventh-ranked running back by 24/7 Sports possesses power at an ideal size and good lateral agility. Clement should be a great fit for Wisconsin's traditional downhill running game -- some say, in a style reminiscent of Ball.

His speed won't wow you, but observers continually praise Clement's balance and vision as a runner. And the results speak for themselves. Clement scored 69 rushing touchdowns in his final two seasons in Glassboro. He also scampered for 476 yards in one game this past year en route to becoming South Jersey's all-time leading rusher.

Glassboro coach Mark Maccarone knows that even after posting back-to-back 2,000-yard rushing seasons as a prep runner, Clement is driven to make an impact on the next level:

"That desire to be the guy that everyone's focusing on, the guy that all the cameras are on, that's what drives him. He wants to walk on that (University of Wisconsin) campus and make an impact right away, and that's a natural want. He wants to be the best he can be."

Rankings

Rivals: (#223 overall - #8 in NJ)
Scout: (#31 RB)
ESPN: 83 (#14 RB - #149 overall - #5 in NJ)
24/7: 95 (#7 RB - #71 overall - #3 in NJ)

Verbally committed November 2, 2012

Wisconsin was one of the last schools to enter the Corey Clement sweepstakes with an offer in May after his junior season. Clement verballed to nearby Pittsburgh the next month, but Wisconsin never relented. Holding offers from both Nebraska and Notre Dame, Clement took visits to both schools in September before making his official visit to Madison on October 20. While the power running philosophy gave Wisconsin a recruiting edge game over schools running a spread offense, Clement was instantly drawn to UW's campus as well. He decommitted from Pitt the next day.

Though he allegedly gave the Badgers a secret verbal on his visit, Clement waited until his birthday, Nov. 2, to announce his choice of Wisconsin over Notre Dame.

That ALL AMERICAN SWAG AND JUST COMMITTED TO THE UNIVERSITY OF WISCONSIN !!!! instagr.am/p/RiAUhanDkK/

— Corey Clement (@IMYEROC2YouRIng) November 2, 2012

Thanks to retaining running backs coach Thomas Hammock, Wisconsin was able to keep Clement fully committed even after the coaching upheaval at Wisconsin. Hammock put in plenty of work recruiting Clement, who had numerous other offers throughout the Midwest and mid-Atlantic region from the likes of Florida State, Iowa, Penn State, Purdue, Rutgers, Ohio State, Syracuse, and West Virginia.

Hitting up New Jersey for a running back worked out in the case of Ron Dayne. Let's hope the thunder rolls again with Clement.

Video Highlights

Statistics

Senior: 191 carries for 2,323 yards & 33 TDs
Junior: 249 carries for 2,510 yards & 36 TDs
Sophomore: 160 carries for 1,205 yards & 15 TDs

Honors

2013 Semper Fidelis All-American Bowl selection
US Army All American Bowl High School Player of the Week (Sep. 29)
South Jersey's all-time leading rusher
2012 South Jersey Times Offensive Football Player of the Year
2011 South Jersey Times Offensive Football Player of the Year

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