Tigers' 2013 recruiting takes an up-turn, as DE Ebenezer Ogundeko commits

At last, Clemson's lagging 2013 recruiting scenario has taken a turn for the better.

Ebenezer Ogundeko, the nation's No. 10 defensive end and the state of New York's No. 1 player according to ESPN, surprised no one by committing to the Tigers over Syracuse at the Under Armour All-America Bowl on Friday.

It marks the second straight season that Clemson has gone into New York and claimed the state's No. 1 player, as Ogundeko follows quarterback Chad Kelly to the Upstate.

Clemson began pursuing Ogundeko after the nation's No. 1 overall prospect, defensive end Robert Nkemdiche, reneged on his commitment to Clemson under pressure from his mother, a Nigerian legislator who prefers that Nkemiche join his brother, Denzel, at Ole Miss.

Ogundeko is Clemson's third defensive end commitment for the class of 2013, joining Shaq Lawson of Daniel High in Central, S.C., and Dane Rogers of Shelby, N.C.

He plans to enroll next week, and will join 2012 signee Martin Aiken, who redshirted this fall, in competing for playing time during spring drills.

Clemson, whose 2013 recruiting class was once rated among the nation's top 10, has plummeted in various recruiting rankings over the past weeks, as Nkemdiche, Loganville, Ga. teammate David Kamara, and Peach County, Ga. wide receiver Demarcus Robinson have decommited from the Tigers.

During the late fall's recruiting lull, Clemson has remained strongly in the running for the nation's No. 1 defensive line prospect, Montravius Adams, as well as elite defensive back prospects Mackensie Alexander, Adrian Baker and Korrin Wiggins.