There was a lot for Amier Clarke to consider. Official visits to Boston College, Georgia Tech, Rutgers and Syracuse created an overload of information to sort through.
The Kissimmee (Fla.) Osceola defensive lineman reached a decision, and he is set to announce it Thursday at 2 p.m. ET.
And the 6-foot-2 1/2, 290-pound Clarke said that he used three key criteria in making his choice.
“It was the culture, the coaches and the players,” Clarke said. “The school I am picking, they passed all of those.”
Clarke began his official visits with a May 30-June 1 trip to Georgia Tech. He then went to Rutgers followed by Boston College and Syracuse.
It gave him deep looks into each of the programs, and an overload of information.
“Spending time with the players and getting around the coaches more and learning what they did, and who they developed, it was stuff like that,” Clarke said. “That really helped in my decision.
“It definitely took a little while (to settle on a school) because it was my first time going on these OVs and stuff like that. It took a little while.”
Scheme fit was important as well. Clarke is used to playing a four-down set, and he sought that in a college.
“I wanted a defensive coordinator who was big on the defensive line making plays,” he said.
It was not a decision that Clarke made alone. His mother and brother gave their input, he said.
“Academics was the main thing for her,” said Clarke, who is leaning toward majoring in business. “She was leaving football to me. She was heavy on the academic part.”
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As a junior, Clarke made 48 tackles, including 11 sacks, and was a key player as Osceola reached Florida’s 6A title game.
