2. Top-tier recruiting classes stockpiled
You might look at the team recruiting rankings on Scout.com and say that Clemson is just going to tread water next season. But having seen what the top recruits in the 2016 class did for the Tigers this season, it’s clear the prospects are better than advertised.
Any class in the top 20 nationally has to be considered top-tier and that’s exactly what Clemson is. In 2015, the Tigers’ class was ranked 15th, in 2016 it was 16th and 2017’s class is considered the 17th-best in the country. The top recruits in each of those classes had immediate impacts.
In fact, the 2015 class included Ray-Ray McLeod, Christian Wilkins, Deon Cain and Mitch Hyatt. The 2016 group featured Sean Pollard, Tavien Feaster, Dexter Lawrence and potential starting quarterback Zerrick Cooper, as well as potential future cornerback stud Trayvon Mullen.
The 2017 class isn’t even complete yet, and it’s already ranked in the top 20. Clemson was in the running for some elite recruits, such as Rashan Gray, until National Signing Day last year, and you can expect the same for this cycle.
Dabo Swinney knows how to recruit and he’s reeling in big fish every year.