Ravenwood's Jake Briningstool on committing to Clemson, Dabo Swinney and going down the slide

BRENTWOOD — Jake Briningstool sat in Ravenwood's football coaches office. His offseason weight room workout was long over.

He discussed everything from his college future to how much weight he needs to put on before the start of the 2020 high school football season.

"I want to be at 230," said Briningstool, a 6-foot-6, 215-pound tight end. 

"I'll be happy if you are playing at 225 next year," Ravenwood coach Matt Daniels said of the No. 1 tight end in the country for the Class of 2021. "That's realistic."

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Briningstool committed to Clemson on Jan. 26 during his visit to the ACC school's junior day. Briningstool is the No. 1 college football prospect in Tennessee for the Class of 2021, according to the 247Sports Composite. He is the No. 80 overall prospect.

Clemson isn't pressuring him to put on weight. He said coaches have told him they will eventually get him to closer to 250.

"I just figured this is the best place for me," said Briningstool, whose dad, Tony, played linebacker at Michigan State. "Recruiting has been going on for about a year. I was kind of ready for it to be done.

"I'm Clemson, 100 percent."

Clemson coaches have told him they are only signing 15-17 players for the 2021 class due to the number of underclassmen returning. 

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The Tigers have nine commitments for the Class of 2021. Briningstool is the third highest-rated prospect. Daniels said Clemson coach Dabo Swinney told him Briningstool is the only tight end the Tigers have offered for the 2021 class. 

Briningstool had 47 catches for 857 yards and nine touchdowns to play a key role in the Raptors' Class 6A state championship game appearance. It came after having 22 receptions for 256 yards as a sophomore.

"They are only taking one linebacker, one tight end, like three receivers ... the spots are pretty secluded," Briningstool said. 

Briningstool said Clemson "felt like home to me" leading to his commitment.

Proximity played a part in his decision. Clemson is within driving distance for his family to see games.

And then there is Swinney.

"His saying is 'the best is yet to come,'" Brininstool said. "He's 100 percent transparent. He's not afraid to show you any side of him. 

"He's like a dad, basically. He genuinely cares about his players and you can tell. And he flipped the whole program around."

Clemson has been to the College Football Playoff five straight seasons and won two national titles.

Briningstool took unofficial trips to Alabama, Clemson and Tennessee during the 2019  season, according to 247Sports. He had more than 25 offers.

"There weren't too many opportunities out there for Jake that he didn't already have," Daniels said. "He's gotten about every offer that you can imagine. I think clearly what he says about coach Swinney and the culture there was a good fit for him.

"It was like, why wait if you know now?" 

What's it like visiting Clemson

Briningstool said Swinney tells recruits during their visit they are going to show them "Clemson without the lights on."

That includes a campus tour, showing off dorms and visiting historical parts on campus.

Oh, and he saw Howard's Rock, which is on display at Memorial Stadium. The rock is touched by players when they enter the field as a longstanding tradition.

And then there is the famed slide in the football facility.

Briningstool said he's gone down it on two trips to the school, during the summer and during junior day.

"The slide is right next to the weight room and the offices are at the top of the slide," Briningstool said. "You walk down a hallway, go down the slide and turn left and you are in the weight room. 

"A lot of guys use it on the way to workouts. It's way easier than walking down steps."

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Reach Tom Kreager at 615-259-8089 or tkreager@tennessean.com and on Twitter @Kreager.