HIGH SCHOOL FOOTBALL: Permian’s Sewell commits to Clemson

Permian High School's Harris Sewell (73) lifts Tabarie Jones (9) in celebration after scoring a touchdown during their game against Odessa High School Friday at Ratliff Stadium. (Jacob Ford|Odessa American)

Permian’s Harris Sewell announced his commitment to Clemson University Wednesday via his Twitter page.

Clemson was in the offensive guard’s list of top five preferred schools, which he trimmed down in April after receiving interest from multiple Division I teams across the country.

“From the time I was a little kid, I always dreamed of playing college football,” Sewell said in his commitment tweet. “There was never a time I didn’t want to play at the next level, but there were days when I wondered if I would get the chance to see my dream come true.”

The Tiger program was his choice over other schools in his top five like Alabama, Oklahoma, Texas and Texas A&M.

Permian offensive line coach and recruiting coordinator Derron Gatewood said he felt chills when he saw the graphics depicting Sewell’s commitment to the Atlantic Coast Conference program.

Seeing the West Texas product give his commitment to one of the top teams in the country was a proud moment for the coach.

“Being able to coach Harris and finally getting to see him grow as a young man, and the journey he went on through this was just exciting,” Gatewood said. “It brought joy to me to see that.”

Under head coach Dabo Swinney, Clemson has cemented itself as a perennial College Football Playoff contender and threat to win a national championship every season.

The Tigers came away with the top prize in college football in the 2016 and 2018 seasons.

Permian High School’s Harris Sewell (73) looks to snap the ball against Odessa High School during their cross town rivalry game Friday at Ratliff Stadium. (Jacob Ford|Odessa American)

When coaches would come in to visit with Sewell at Permian, Gatewood noted that they would ask about his personality and dug deep to get to know the player more.

The schools that made it into Sewell’s top five fit him academically and made him feel welcomed.

Gatewood said Sewell told him he felt at home in Clemson, S.C., when he took visits to the campus.

“I talked to him before and I said, ‘You’re going to know when you get there and it’s just going to feel right, whatever it is,’” Gatewood said. “When he was there everything clicked and felt right; the players he was around, the community he was around, the place, the atmosphere and everything just felt right for him.”

In his junior season at Permian, Sewell showed his versatility playing on the interior of the offensive line.

He started seven games at guard and four at center as the Panthers advance to the area round of the 2021 Class 6A playoffs.

In a tweet highlighting his Hudl page, Sewell stated that he recorded 61 pancakes, 21 knockdowns and allowed zero sacks or quarterback pressures on the campaign.

Sewell is the No. 65 player in the Class of 2023’s ESPN 300 recruiting database, which includes some of the top prospects in the nation.

He is set to take the field in August for a Permian team that has various players getting looks to continue their careers at the next level.

The upcoming senior will look to continue making highlight plays in the Panthers’ veer offense, using his mauling play style to open up lanes for the rushing attack.

At Clemson, Sewell will go into an offensive system that features more spread aspects compared to a triple option offense.

Gatewood believes the lineman will fit in well with the up-tempo offense.

“That’s the whole thing with him and that coaching staff, they’re going to teach him everything he needs to know,” Gatewood said. “Even if it took a year to two to develop, whatever it takes, he’s going to fit in just great and he’ll be able to develop and fit in to that program, and the system so I think he’ll do just great in that part.”

Sewell was a first team All-District 2-6A selection and received honorable mention recognition on the Texas Sports Writers Association’s Class 6A All-State team in 2021.

Permian Panthers’ Harris Sewell (73) stands on the sideline as they prepare to play their annual spring game Thursday afternoon at Ratliff Stadium.(Jacob Ford|Odessa American)

When Gatewood played at Permian, he was also an offensive lineman that garnered interest from Division I programs.

He ultimately played at UTEP before returning to his hometown to help players like Sewell get to the next level.

Gatewood said Sewell’s recruiting process was important for his younger teammates at Permian.

“It’s big for his teammates to see it, especially the lower classmen that they can all see it, the ones coming up behind him,” Gatewood said. “I think he’s a good role model and he set a good pathway, especially for the guys that have dreams to do what he’s doing.

“They’ve got somebody to look up to and see it is possible for a kid from West Texas to make their dreams possible and go play at the next level.”

>> Follow Chris Amaya on Twitter at @OA_CAmaya