Mike Noonan combines coast-to-coast, local recruiting in Tigers' 2012 class

With a coast-to-coast recruiting effort that adds talent and depth at every position except goalkeeper, Mike Noonan continued his re-make of the Clemson men’s soccer team with the addition of seven 2012 signees.

The group includes Richard Robinson, a midfielder from Elmont, NY; Andy Anglade, a midfielder from Haiti who played his high school and club soccer in the Atlanta, GA area; Robert ‘T.J.’ Casner, a forward from Irvine, CA; Kyle Fisher, a defender from Easley, SC; Matthew Freeman, a defender from Irmo, SC; John Cajka, a midfielder from Greer, SC; and Preston Gayton, a midfielder from Peachtree City, GA.

"This class is not as large as last year's freshman class but its talent level is just as deep," said Noonan. "This class gives us more depth in every position.”

Noonan said he and his staff “went from coast to coast looking for the right men to join our program.”

The group of seven includes five who have been club teammates – Anglade and Gayton with Concorde Fire in the Atlanta area, and Upstate SC’s CESA 93 – which was ranked No. 1 in the nation last year by Top Drawer Soccer.

Clemson’s seven signees join two mid-year transfers – Emmett Lunceford of Columbia, SC, who transferred from South Carolina, and Manolo Sanzhez of Philadelphia, PA, who transferred from Louisville. Both are midfielders.

A year ago, Noonan and his staff added a dozen signees, many of whom featured prominently as freshmen.

Richard Robinson, Midfielder, Elmont, NY: He ranked as one of the leading scorers on his club and high school teams throughout his career, and tallied both goals in his ENYS club’s ODP Region victory. He earned New York all-state, all-region, and All-Long Island honors.

Andy Anglade, Midfielder, Alpharetta, GA: A member of the Haitian Under-17 national team during CONCACAF 2011, he played his high school soccer at Milton High in Alpharetta, GA. He played on Concorde Fire soccer club’s U17/U18 Academy Team, and participated in Elite Player Visit/Training Camp with West Ham United in England in 2009 and with Empoli FC in Italy in 2007. He served as his high school’s team captain last season.

Robert "TJ" Casner, Forward, Irvine, CA: Rated as a four-star prospect by Top Drawer Soccer, he is a four-year member of the US Soccer Development Academy who has trained in England with several Premier League teams, including Blackburn Rovers, Manchester City, Ipswich, West Ham and Everton. He has also trained and competed in Brazil with Sao Paulo FC and Clube Atletico Paranaense. He was a part of the US U14-15 National Team pool, and was a member of the 2006/2007 U.S. Futsal National Championship team with the Mexican American Community Services Association (MACSA)

Kyle Fisher, Defender, Easley, SC: A standout performer at Wren High School and the starting center back for the Carolina Elite Soccer Association team ranked No. 1 in the nation by Top Drawer Soccer, he helped his club teams win five state titles. He helped Wren High to a top-10 finish in two of the past three years.

Matthew Freeman, Defender, Irmo, SC: An ESPN Rise Top 150 national player, he teamed with Fisher on the back line for CESA 93’s top-ranked national club team, and was a three-year starter at Irmo, where he help his team to a pair of state runner-up finishes. He attended the U-17 National Team Mini-Camp, and has been a member of the South Carolina Olympic Development Team since 2006. He was named to the 2010 Disney Showcase Inter-Regional All-Star Team, and was named as one of the ACC’s top 20 incoming freshmen by Top Drawer Soccer.

John Cajka, Midfielder, Greer, SC: Another member of the top-ranked CESA club team, he served as team captain the past two seasons at J.L. Mann High, where he helped his team win the 2010 state 3-A title and to Upper State championships in 2009 and 2011. He helped lead CESA four straight state titles, and to the 2011 regional semifinals.

Preston Gayton, Midfielder, Peachtree City, GA: Named one of the ACC’s top 20 incoming freshmen by Top Drawer Soccer, he’s been part of various national team camps since 2006, including the U14 National Team in 2007 and the U17 National Team in 2010. He played for the Disney All-Star Team that competed in England in 2011, and is a member of ESPN Rise’s national top 150. He is a teammate of Anglade’s on the Concorde Fire club team, which he led in scoring in 2011. He holds the Starr’s Mill High School record for assists, and helped the team to a state title in 2010. He is a member of ESPN Rise’s Georgia Starting 11 for 2012.