On Martin Luther King Day a year ago, Clemson offensive line coach Robbie Caldwell traveled to St. Xavier High School in Cincinnati, Ohio. On a cold winter morning, Caldwell watched the workout of four-star offensive guard Matt Bockhorst. Afterward, Caldwell spoke with his coach, Steve Specht, for about an hour and a half.
Because of recruiting regulations, Bockhorst couldn’t talk to Caldwell directly. But after Caldwell left, Bockhorst talked to Specht about their conversation.
“That’s the type of guy that I want my son to play for,” Specht said to Bockhorst, “because he gets it.”
Later that month in late January, Bockhorst visited Clemson for a couple of days.