CLEMSON, S.C. — A Clemson flag was flying in front of the house Dabo Swinney presumed belonged to one of his top recruits. Tre Lamar’s family had just moved a few weeks earlier, so this was Swinney’s first trip to the new house, and when he saw the Tigers logo flowing in the breeze, he assumed he’d found the right place.

Turns out, however, Lamar lived next door. The proximity to another Clemson fan was just a coincidence, but as Swinney wrapped up his visit with the star linebacker, the Tigers supporters next door were still on his mind.

“Let’s go over and knock on the door,” Swinney said to Lamar, grinning at the prospect of surprising the neighbors.

Lamar’s neighbors answered the door in their pajamas, but they proceeded to give Swinney a tour of the whole house, pointing out every Clemson artifact they owned and telling the story of its origin. It was a blast, Swinney said.

The visit assured Swinney he’d have someone close to Lamar pulling for the Tigers — always a good thing as signing day approaches — but it also spoke to the experience Lamar would have once he came to Clemson.

This is how Swinney runs things. He’s fun, he’s spontaneous, and he loves Clemson, and that filters throughout the program. It’s Swinney’s secret weapon on the recruiting trail. There’s nowhere quite like Clemson because there’s no coach quite like Swinney.

But if this is a message Swinney’s top targets had heard routinely, the 2015 season gave the rest of the world a glimpse at that energy, too.

Yes, the big wins were a terrific recruiting tool. Clemson spent the bulk of the season ranked No. 1 in the nation, upended Oklahoma in the Orange Bowl and nearly upset Alabama in the national championship game. And as Swinney is all too eager to remind people, the program has now won 10 games or more for five straight seasons. That alone will sway recruits.

The wins also put a spotlight on Clemson that hadn’t been there before, and that spotlight meant Swinney’s personality was beamed to millions of homes throughout the country. You didn’t have to be a top recruit in nearby Georgia to get a taste of life with Swinney. It was on display with each new catchphrase, dance move and pizza party.

It's no surprise then that the 2016 signing class was Clemson’s most geographically diverse, with players from 10 states faxing in a letter of intent. Swinney recruited Isaiah Simmons and Xavier Kelly out of Kansas — a state he’d never been to before. And while there’s still a sales job once he arrives, Swinney can now step through the front door of any recruit in the country, and they already understand that he’s bringing a different energy than most.

“What we did this year, not just winning — it enhanced our brand,” said Brandon Streeter, Clemson’s recruiting coordinator. “It enhanced our brand by winning and showing people how we win. It stems from Coach Swinney. The fun he has and he brings to this program, it really goes throughout the program. We have a blast at practice, a blast after games, and we’re going to enjoy it. We talk about it each week in the staff room.”

This approach doesn't guarantee a signing, of course, but it does stand in stark contrast with some of the more buttoned-down coaches who’ve often dominated the recruiting trail. Swinney does things differently, and this season was one long commercial for that narrative.

Swinney admits it’s not for everyone, but for those it does connect with, he knows Clemson has an instant fan. And, to be sure, there’s a calculated risk there. Swinney’s joyous outbursts after a big win were real, but he also knows they have an effect on how he — and Clemson — are perceived.

“It’s the strength of our brand,” Swinney said. “People want to come see Clemson.”

Reel 'em in with the energy, close the deal with all the rest — the winning, the campus, the NFL future. It’s become a successful recipe for Swinney, and 2015’s run to the national championship game took it to the next level.

“When kids see that on the news, it definitely helps,” Streeter said. “It helps build that momentum that you’re looking for, and that’s something we’ve done with the 2017 and 2018 class already.”