Recruiting rankings for a rising junior can feel like a formality, but Clemson just locked down arguably the best quarterback in the 2028 cycle. Hayes Fawcett of Rivals broke the news that 4-star signal-caller Trace Hawkins is committing to the Tigers, choosing them over a finalist group that included Vanderbilt and LSU.
Hawkins is a 6'1", 190-pound passer who's been building buzz since Clemson extended him an offer back in June, making him one of the first quarterbacks in the entire 2028 class to land a scholarship from the staff. He backed that offer up with a monster sophomore season in 2025, throwing for 2,442 yards and 24 touchdowns against just 3 interceptions, while adding 153 yards and 3 more scores on the ground. That's the profile of a kid who can sling it and make plays with his legs when things break down.
The recruitment wasn't a one-horse race until very recently. Duke, Virginia Tech, LSU and Vanderbilt were all still in the mix as Hawkins set a commitment date, but momentum had reportedly swung hard toward Clemson in the days leading up to Thursday's announcement, with recruiting insiders lining up behind the Tigers before he even made it official.
For Clemson, this is about staking a claim early in a quarterback room that Dabo Swinney has been rebuilding around arm talent and mobility. Beating out an LSU program that's thrown big NIL money at skill positions and a Vanderbilt team that's been on the rise under Clark Lea is a real recruiting win, not just a courtesy commitment from a kid checking a box.
Nothing here is binding until National Signing Day rolls around in a couple years, and 2028 commitments flip all the time as other blue bloods circle back with bigger offers. But locking in one of the top arms in the class this early gives Clemson a head start on building the rest of that recruiting class around him, and gives Hawkins two years to grow into a Tigers uniform before it's official.