Congratulations: Clemson Dad Excited Son Is Part of What Tigers Are Building

 

This Clemson dad is certainly happy that his son is a Tiger and a new member of Dabo Swinney’s football program.

Nate Watford – the father of highly regarded Clemson defensive end signee Ari Watford – took to social media on Tuesday and expressed his excitement for Ari after he enrolled at Clemson earlier this month.

Nate loves what’s going on with the Clemson program, which has added three transfers this offseason, and officially hired Tom Allen as defensive coordinator on Tuesday after hiring defensive ends coach Chris Rumph and offensive line coach Matt Luke in December 2023

I am excited that my son is apart of the exciting things that are happening with Clemson Football!” Nate wrote in a post on X (formerly Twitter). “Dabo told people to buy stock last year! Brought in Luke and Rumph this past offseason. Then he hit the portal 3 times and got a new DC this offseason! ”

The future looks bright for Clemson and Ari, a talented edge rusher out of the Tidewater region of Virginia.

A finalist for Gatorade Player of the Year in Virginia, Ari signed with Clemson in December as a consensus four-star recruit in the 2025 class. He was ranked as the nation’s No. 112 overall player by ESPN, which also ranked him as the nation’s 15th-best defensive end and the fourth-best player in Virginia.

Ari transferred from Salem to Maury (Norfolk, Va.) prior to his junior season and helped Maury to a 15-0 record and a Class 5A state title in 2023, when he was credited with 69 tackles, seven sacks, four fumble recoveries and three forced fumbles.