Tallahassee tight end Sage Ennis commits to Clemson over local Florida State
The Trojans' 6-foot-4 senior played his first two years at Graceville before proving his abilities on a bigger stage and drawing Power 5 interest
Tallahassee tight end Sage Ennis commits to Clemson over local Florida State The Trojans' 6-foot-4 senior played his first two years at Graceville before proving his abilities on a bigger stage and drawing Power 5 interest Check out this story on independentmail.com: https://www.greenvilleonline.com/story/sports/2019/06/29/tallahassee-tight-end-sage-ennis-commits-clemson-over-local-fsu/1600084001/
Brian Miller, Tallahassee Democrat Published 10:37 a.m. ET June 29, 2019
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TALLAHASSEE, FL — Cow pastures, barns filled with hay, and a rural lifestyle is "home" for Sage Ennis, a senior at Lincoln High School in Tallahassee, Florida.
It's ultimately the reason why the Trojans' three-star tight end recently committed to Clemson when he also had offers from Florida State, Penn State, NC State, UCF, Louisville and more.
But Ennis didn't have Clemson on board from the start; the Tigers were a late addition to his recruiting list only after he chased down an offer he didn't know was available or would be extended.
While the allure of committing to the defending national champions was certainly enticing on its own, it's the way Ennis grew up – in contrast to the past year spent living in a boarding house – that solidified exactly why he chose the Tigers.
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"Going into the spring game, I really wanted FSU," Ennis told the Democrat. "I loved being there and being around them. But when I was there, I never got that 'home' feeling. When I went to Clemson, it was home. It was out in the country, not a big city.
"Everybody has glitz and glamor. Everybody has nice locker rooms and weight rooms. The facilities, everyone has them. But it's the feeling you get in your gut, that's how you know.
"After I got that offer, it was over."
Lincoln senior tight end Sage Ennis takes a photo with Clemson head coach Dabo Swinney and tight ends coach Danny Pearman during a visit in which Ennis committed to play for the Tigers. (Photo: Sage Ennis photo)
Barn raising
The first five years of Ennis' life were spent watching his dad move from cow pasture to cow pasture – first in Columbus, Ohio, where he was born, then to Tennessee, then to Michigan.
In 2006, his father took a job in Marianna with Southern Cattle Company. The family set up their roots halfway between Marianna and Graceville, and Ennis chose to attend school in the latter, a small town near the Alabama border.
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As a boy, Ennis was charged with opening and closing gates for cattle. As he got older, his tasks increased to sorting cattle and bailing hay. The day would start at 6 a.m., when the sun came up, and he'd finally come inside at 7 p.m., as the sun was setting.
"It made me tough, country strong," Ennis said. "You're always out there doing something – working with cows, picking up hay. I enjoyed it."
Lincoln's Sage Ennis runs in a 32-yard touchdown that was called back for a penalty as Godby defeated Lincoln 34-24 at Gene Cox Stadium on Friday, Nov. 2, 2018. (Photo: Brian Miller/Democrat)
Reserved in his personality, Ennis began playing Pee Wee football in Graceville. His first best football memory was winning a league championship – the first of what would be three consecutive – while playing running back and linebacker. Ennis' athleticism was also on display on the baseball field and in track and field, in which he ran sprints.
At Graceville Middle/High School, he began playing varsity full-time as a freshman, catching 34 passes for 627 yards and six touchdowns. At the time, he was 5-foot-11 and 155 pounds.
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Over the next year, Ennis hit a growth spurt to 6-foot-4 and his weight climbed over 200 pounds. He was also asked to play quarterback as a sophomore for a new head coach. He threw for 1,529 yards with nine touchdowns and 11 interceptions, but that position didn't jive with his skill set and new-found size.
"Ever since middle school, people wanted me to play quarterback and at times I would, but I didn't want to," Ennis said. "Sophomore year, we had no one else. I had a decent year, but I love wide receiver and tight end."
Lincoln's Sage Ennis falls on a blocked punt in the end zone for a touchdown as Wakulla plays Lincoln on Thursday night at Gene Cox Stadium. (Photo: Brian Miller/Democrat)
Talking with his dad one day not long after the Tigers' 2017 season ended, the idea began being discussed to transfer somewhere Ennis could catch the ball and be more widely seen in recruiting circles. That meant a city high school.
Option 1 was Gulf Breeze High in Pensacola, where Ennis knew a coach.
Option 2 was Lincoln High in Tallahassee, where Ennis' Graceville head coach as a freshman, Grant Thompson, had become offensive coordinator on second-year Trojans head coach Quinn Gray's relatively new staff.
Ennis chose Lincoln and left Graceville over winter break to be eligible for spring football in 2018. But with that decision also came a big life change: He'd have to leave his family, his friends, his girlfriend, and the blue-collar country lifestyle he knew and loved.
"It was hard," Ennis said. "But I realized after my sophomore year it would be hard to get recruited in Graceville. I had to leave my family. It worked out to come over here. I don't regret it. It has paid off for sure."
Lincoln receiver Sage Ennis catches a touchdown as Lincoln beat Oakleaf 38-31 in three overtime periods in a Region 1-7A quarterfinal Thursday night at Gene Cox Stadium. (Photo: Brian Miller/Democrat)
Tallahassee take-off
Under a new Florida school-choice law, student-athletes may attend a school of their choice in Florida, regardless of county, provided they produce their own travel and/or live where they're attending, and enrollment is not capped at the school.
Ennis became a permanent Leon County resident by living at a six-bedroom boarding house. He had his own bathroom, closet and bedroom. For a whole year, he lived on his own. He made sure he went to bed on time, got his homework done, and was fed.
On weekends, Ennis would travel 80 miles back home to see his family and girlfriend. This May, his college-aged sister transferred to FSU, so now they have an apartment together.
"I keep to myself, I'm not a party animal," Ennis said. "Staying out of trouble and being home was easy for me. I had to keep up the school work and have that discipline, but my goal was to play college football, so I knew I had to stay straight."
Lincoln receiver Sage Ennis goes up for a touchdown catch against Godby during Friday's spring jamboree between Godby, Lincoln and Rickards at Florida A&M's Bragg Memorial Stadium. (Photo: Brian Miller/Democrat)
Going from 32 kids in his graduating class to around 400 at Lincoln, Ennis made an impact immediately during Lincoln's 2018 spring jamboree at Florida A&M against Godby and Rickards.
He high-pointed two touchdown catches in a win over the Cougars, then on a last-minute drive against the Raiders made a leaping, game-winning catch with seconds left.
"I knew Godby, Rickards and Lincoln were rivals, but I didn't really know how serious it was at the time," Ennis said. "When I go back and watch the video of the catch, you see everyone go crazy. At the time, it was just another catch for me. But now I realize how important it was and how big of a moment it was, not just for me but for Lincoln. It was perfect timing."
Lincoln's Sage Ennis catches a game-winning touchdown against Rickards during Friday's spring jamboree between Godby, Lincoln and Rickards at Florida A&M's Bragg Memorial Stadium. (Photo: Brian Miller/Democrat)
Ennis went on to record 39 catches for 596 yards and four touchdowns during his junior season while playing receiver. He was the Trojans' goal-line quarterback, powering in for nine touchdowns. He showed a knack for finding the ball on special teams. Ennis was named second-team All-Big Bend as Lincoln went 7-5 and reached the second round of the playoffs. He developed as a player amid a fast-paced offense and film study with quarterback Chris Beard.
Ennis also got plenty of exposure, and this spring his mail box has been flooded with offers.
"It was crazy," Ennis said. "All the mail, I'd go through it and take it back home. I have a big box of all the mail I got this spring, and I'm still getting it. I'm keeping it so one day I can see it all. My first Power 5 offer came from Louisville in March on spring break. That was a special moment.
"And all the other offers, I don't take one for granted, either the smallest school you can think of or the biggest school. There's people out there that wish they could have that opportunity, and I know that coming from a 1A school."
Lincoln's Sage Ennis flips the ball to a ref after scoring a touchdown, and Lincoln beat Oakleaf 38-31 in three overtime periods during a Region 1-7A quarterfinal Thursday night at Gene Cox Stadium. (Photo: Brian Miller/Democrat)
Huge target
With current North Carolina true freshman Kamari Morales graduating out of Lincoln's tight end position, Ennis slid into that role. His weight has gone up by 25 pounds to 230. And he's done all the physical work while maintaining a 4.2 GPA and scoring a 23 on the ACT.
Morales coached Ennis up on the finer points of playing tight end this spring, and he displayed that ability during the spring jamboree against Rickards and Florida High, again at Florida A&M, in front of a bevy of scouts. He's gone from an unrated recruit to a three-star prospect.
"He did it all," Gray said. "He showed he can be an end-line tight end attached to the tackle. He showed he can spread out, run routes and catch the football. He can be in the backfield, motion, kick out on power, pull on counter and wrap around to get a linebacker.
"Sage is an athletic kid, but he wants to put his facemask right in your chest. He's grown in the position tremendously this spring because of the time he's put in the weight room and his time getting coached up by Kamari."
Lincoln tight end Sage Ennis gets hit on a goal line run as the Trojans beat Florida High 28-0 during the Big Bend Spring Football Classic jamboree at Florida A&M's Bragg Memorial Stadium on May 18, 2019. (Photo: Brian Miller/Democrat)
After the spring game, Ennis got the FSU offer he'd been coveting. It seemed like things were lining up to be a huge local target that had found its way into a garnet and gold uniform.
However, there was one school out there Ennis was interested in. He just didn't know if it wanted him.
"Clemson said they were done with 2020 guys, but he opened their eyes to recruiting again," Gray said. "It was somewhere he liked, and he wanted to see if there was an opportunity for him there.
"He's not a kid that's enamored with who offers him. He knows what he wants, and when he wants something he'll go get it. It's the prime example of him getting the Clemson offer. He wanted it, did what he had to do to get it, and now he's going to Clemson."
Three-star tight end Sage Ennis at FSU junior day on Mar. 9, 2019. (Photo: Wayne McGahee III/Democrat)
Convincing Clemson
In fall 2018, Ennis followed Clemson associate head coach Brent Venables on Twitter and got followed back. During the season, Ennis sent Venables highlights from spring and mid-season.
Then in December, Ennis sent him the full season highlights, but didn't hear back – most likely because of NCAA rules on when coaches can be in contact with recruits.
This spring, after offers from all other schools were rolling in, including FSU, Ennis reached out one more time and sent Venables his spring highlights.
"I said, 'I hope you like what you see,' and this time he actually texted me back," Ennis said.
Lincoln senior tight end Sage Ennis and his parents take a photo with Clemson head coach Dabo Swinney during a visit in which Ennis committed to play for the Tigers. (Photo: Sage Ennis photo)
He told Venables he would be up at NC State – the Wolfpack were in his final top three – for a recruiting visit and asked if he could stop by Clemson on the way home.
Venables agreed and Ennis got the full tour of the Tigers' rural South Carolina campus. At the end, he was given a lifeline.
"He said, 'Listen, we've got a camp next week. We feel like if you come back and can show us who you are, you have a shot at getting an offer,'" Ennis described. "I came back and told Coach Gray and he said, 'No, they're pulling your leg.'
"'No, Coach, I think they're for real.' And he said, 'If you think they're for real, go up there and shock everybody.'"
Trojans receiver Sage Ennis tries to hang onto a slippery ball as Lincoln beats Bainbridge 28-6 at Gene Cox Stadium on Thursday, Aug. 30, 2018. (Photo: Brian Miller/Democrat)
At the camp, unaware that Clemson head coach Dabo Swinney was watching, Ennis beat one of the nation's top linebacker recruits on a corner route, catching a touchdown with one hand.
Swinney directed a comment towards Ennis as he jogged back up the field about it being a good time to make a play like that. Ennis laughed and said, 'Yes, sir,' then proceeded to make a couple other big plays in one-on-one drills.
"To perform like that, that's all he's done since he's been here," Gray said. "He went from 1A football to 7A football and the way he produced has been phenomenal. The notoriety and offers he's getting, they're well-deserved."
And then it came, just like that – Swinney pulled Ennis aside and offered. He had convinced Clemson, national champs in two of the past three years, to take a country boy from Graceville.
"The first thing I did was call my girlfriend," Ennis said. "I called Coach (Jimmie) Tyson and Coach Gray. My parents were pumped. It was indescribable. Hard work pays off. It's crazy to think I'll be playing for the defending national champions."
Sage Ennis hauls in a touchdown catch as the Lincoln Trojans played host to the Leon Lions at Gene Cox Stadium on Monday, Oct. 15, 2018. The Trojans won 56-21 to capture a District 2-7A title. (Photo: Brian Miller/Democrat)
One more year
With Ennis and Lincoln headed off for a recruiting trip the following week, Swinney and Ennis agreed it would be in the best interest of both to withhold a commitment out of respect for the schools Ennis would be visiting. The Trojans went as far north as Penn State, where Ennis picked up another premier offer.
But nothing ever matched what he found and felt at Clemson.
"The trip would let me know if Clemson was really the place, and it did," Ennis said. "It solidified it the whole time. I thought about Clemson everywhere I went. I tried to compare it, but no one else had that feeling. When I got back, I committed."
One recruiting site has hailed Ennis as the sleeper Clemson recruit for Class of 2020. Gray, who didn't believe Ennis could be a receiver when he first stepped on Lincoln's campus, is now convinced his tight end can not only excel at a premier college football program but play on Sundays.
"Once he gets to Clemson and gets the specific coaching he needs at the position, he can turn into whatever he puts his mind to," Gray said. "He's that kind of kid. He'll get it done or die trying."
Wide receiver Sage Ennis and Lincoln's football team practices during Midnight Madness, starting at 12:01 a.m. on Monday, July 30, 2018. (Photo: Brian Miller/Democrat)
Ennis still has one more high school season left and it should be a good one, both individually and as a team. The Trojans return Beard to distribute to Ennis and several proven receivers.
Ennis says his competitiveness won't let him rest now that he's gotten his dream school. He wants to be a leadership piece to help Lincoln make a run deep in the playoffs.
When the season is over, he'll early-enroll and begin classes at Clemson in January so he can begin catching spring passes from future, sure-fire No. 1 NFL draft pick Trevor Lawrence.
"I joke around with my family, when I get up there, I'm going to ask Trevor Lawrence if I can cut off a piece of his hair to keep instead of an autograph," Ennis said. "To catch balls from him, that's pretty crazy."
Lincoln senior tight end Sage Ennis and his parents takes a photo during a visit in which Ennis committed to play for the Tigers. (Photo: Sage Ennis photo)
In a quick six months, Ennis will be an unlikely find – from the Graceville Tigers to the Clemson Tigers.
He could one day play with or against former teammate Xavien Sorey Jr., a four-star athlete out of Graceville who has Alabama and FSU high on his list and has an offer from Clemson. Potentially, they could meet up in a national championship game or in raucous Death Valley, as opponents or teammates.
It's a dream scenario turning ever more real.
"Fortunately, most of the games at Graceville were packed out, but it's nowhere close to 100,000 people," Ennis said. "It will be different, but it will be exciting to get to touch (Howard's) Rock, run down the hill, and hear everyone chanting. It will be crazy. God has blessed me with a great opportunity."
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