4-Star DE Visits for Stanford, Leaves with Clemson Offer

Simote Katoanga’s visit to Clemson for the Stanford game was a memorable one and for multiple reasons.

While the 4-star DE, out of J Serra Catholic (CA), stopped in for a visit back during the summer, this trip afforded the 2026 prospect his first opportunity to catch the game day atmosphere at Death Valley.

The fans still packing out the stadium despite Hurricane Helene ripping through the area just 36 hours beforehand impressed the high school junior.

“Just the atmosphere,” Katoanga told The Clemson Insider. “How diehard the fans were even when they got hit by the hurricane. Just how many people showed up to the game. The atmosphere, the fans and the coaches. It just felt like, when I was at the game, I felt like a priority to the coaches, which made it a great visit.”

Katoanga also left town with an offer in hand. He has been hearing from defensive ends coach Chris Rumph quite often over the past few weeks and then before the game, head coach Dabo Swinney pulled him into his office to dispense the offer.

“(Coach Swinney) loves my size,” Katoanga said. “He was just telling me that the offer means something just because they only recruit a limited amount of people. That’s one of the things I respect about them.”

247 ranks Katoanga No. 105 overall and No. 11 among all edge rushers and the 6-foot-5, 240-pound prospect now has close to two dozen offers. Notre Dame, Southern Cal, Tennessee, Oregon, Arizona State and Washington are some of the other schools he said he are recruiting him the hardest.

Katoanga is hoping to visit Tennessee, Notre Dame and Southern Cal before the end of the season. However, he does feel there are some things that make Clemson stand out.

“The fans and the people,” he said. “The atmosphere that Clemson plays in and the community around there.”

Katoanga said he is still too early in the process to fully know when he might make any kind of decision, though he did say he’d like to have one made by the start of his senior season.

As he continues to go through the process, he is looking for the right cultural fit and a coaching staff that can develop him not only as a player, but also a man.

“Just the culture and the atmosphere of the school,” Katoanga said. “Just seeing which school just makes me feel like I’m at home. And the player development. On the field and off the field.”

A limited number of signed replica road signs from Cade Klubnik are available!  Visit Clemson Variety & Frame or purchase online!