Jarvis Green, Dutch Fork star tailback, commits to Clemson

Playing college football at Clemson always has been high on Jarvis Green’s priority list. The Dutch Fork High School running back will get that chance.

The senior on Tuesday announced a decision to play for coach Dabo Swinney and the Tigers.

So, what stands out about Clemson?

“Just Coach Swinney and all the coaches, they have a special bond,” Green told The State on Monday after Shrine Bowl practice. “They are all in to everything and treat their players like their sons. Through all the ups and downs, they will always keep them up and keep them going.”

Green is the 24th player to verbally commit to Clemson this cycle. The Tigers’ 2023 recruiting class ranks ninth nationally and second in the ACC behind Miami and includes 18 four- or five-star recruits.

Green picked Clemson over James Madison and Virginia Tech. He originally committed to play at JMU but always held out hope he would get a Clemson offer. That offer came earlier this month and changed his focus.

Green got some negative reaction from JMU fans on social media after he broke off his commitment, but said he tried not to pay attention to it or take it personal.

“JMU is a great place and they have a great fan base,” Green said. “I had to make the best decision for me, but I always love JMU fans.”

Green grew up Clemson fan, with quarterback Deshaun Watson and running back Travis Etienne as some of his favorite players. He said he made six or seven visits to the school over the past two years. Like Etienne, Green is a versatile back who led his team in receptions this season.

Green also shined on special teams, setting a school record with two kickoff returns for touchdowns in 2022.

“My first time there I was like, ‘If I get an offer here, I might as well go there.’ It really feels like home,” Green said.

Dutch Fork coach Tom Knotts had lobbied for weeks for in-state schools Clemson and South Carolina to offer his tailback, who was a finalist for South Carolina’s Mr. Football.

“I don’t know why Dabo (Swinney) and (Shane) Beamer aren’t knocking the door down,” Knotts said after a playoff win over Dorman on Nov. 12. “That last run was typical of Jarvis all year. He might be happy where he is going, but it doesn’t make any sense to me. It looks to me like another Jalin Hyatt scenario.”

Hyatt, a former Dutch Fork standout receiver, never was offered by Clemson or South Carolina and went to play with the Tennessee Volunteers. He won the Biletnikoff Award as the nation’s top receiver.

Clemson offered Green last week, four days after junior running back Kobe Pace entered the transfer portal. With Pace transferring and Clemson without a running back commitment for Class of 2023, the Tigers were down to four scholarship RBs: top contributors Will Shipley, Phil Mafah and seldom-used backups Domonique Thomas and Keith Adams Jr.

Now the Tigers are up to five tailbacks. They’re also expected to land the commitment of Alabama running back Jamarius Haynes before signing day, per Phil Kornblut of SportsTalk SC. Clemson gave Haynes, an unranked 2023 running back at Handley High School in Roanoke, Alabama, his first FBS scholarship offer in October.

It is the third straight year a Dutch Fork player has committed to the Tigers. Will Taylor committed to play football and baseball in 2021 and receiver Antonio Williams was part of the Tigers’ 2022 class. Williams led Clemson in receiving this season.

Green is the third in-state commitment for Clemson in this signing class, joining three-star Greenville wide receiver Tyler Brown (formerly committed to Minnesota) and Daniel athlete Misun Kelley (Virginia Tech). Green won’t enroll early because of his class schedule at Dutch Fork, and there is a good chance he will play basketball for the Silver Foxes.

Green has been on varsity basketball team since his eighth grade year and was part of the Silver Foxes team that made it to the 2020 Class 5A title game.

247Sports Composite ranks Green as a three-star prospect and No. 21 in South Carolina for the Class of 2023. He leaves Dutch Fork as one of the top players in school history.

Green finished his career with 4,608 yards and 78 rushing touchdowns, both second all-time behind 2014 Mr. Football Matt Colburn, who had a standout career at Wake Forest and played last year in the USFL. This season, he rushed for 2,272 yards, 33 touchdowns and also caught 36 passes for 527 yards and six scores despite missing two games because of injury.

Green had 290 all-purpose yards and four touchdowns in the 47-10 over Fort Dorchester in the Class 5A Championship game on Dec. 3. It was the Silver Foxes’ sixth championship in the past seven seasons.

The State’s Chapel Fowler contributed to this story.