They've come the longest way to join a Jacksonville State football team laden with players from Alabama and Georgia, and as such likely will be roommates when players' dorm assignments get distributed.
The two freshmen have already become fast friends around the lunch table, and Winbush laid a valuable piece of insight on Clemons right before they went out to practice.
It gets hot in Alabama in August.
Clemons and Winbush were on the field with the rest of their new JSU teammates Friday, working out in 90-degree temperatures for about two hours.
For Clemons, a defensive lineman from Flint, Mich. (775 miles north of JSU), it was a little warm. For Winbush, a tight end from just outside San Antonio (923 miles away), it was reasonably comfortable.
"This would be like a nice day (back home)," said Winbush, a late catch by the Gamecocks after his highlight film landed in the football office.
"Unfortunately, it was really humid today, so it was hard for me to breathe.
"Back at my high school, we practiced in 102-, 103-degree weather. I was used to heat, it's just the humidity made it worse. I was just so shocked at how quickly I was out of breath out here. I'm trying to get used to it."
For Clemson, it might take a while. He's used to the highs in the summer back home being around 85. The Gamecocks might not see that until their first night game.
"It'll probably take a few weeks, but I'll probably get used to it," Clemons said.
With the arrival of Clemons and Winbush, the Gamecocks' recruiting footprint stretches into to some uncharted territory.
The roster listed in the media guide has 45 players from Alabama and 25 from Georgia. Florida is the next abundant supplier of talent with five.
When the sphere of influence is generally so tight, it begs the question how do they get players from such far off locales.
The answer is right nearby.
"Scott Smouse," Gamecocks coach Jack Crowe said, referring to his offensive line coach.
"We never had anybody that thinks like Scott does in recruiting. He thinks the whole world is his recruiting base. He doesn't have any Alabama to him, so he recruits everywhere."
Smouse also was the first JSU coach who made contact with LSU in the run-up to getting Ryan Perrilloux.
