Clemson Football Recruiting 2015: Five Tigers Who Could Start As True Freshmen

Nov 29, 2014; Clemson, SC, USA; Clemson Tigers tight end Cannon Smith holds up his helmet after a play during the second half against the South Carolina Gamecocks at Clemson Memorial Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Joshua S. Kelly-USA TODAY Sports

4) Albert Huggins – DE/DT

If there was one thing the 2015 Clemson recruiting class did very well, it was addressing the Tigers’ needs on the defensive line.

Clemson will be without Grady Jarrett, Josh Watson, and Deshawn Williams at defensive tackle next year, giving them three spots to fill in the two-deep. The situation is the same at defensive end, as well, with Vic Beasley, Corey Crawford, and Tavaris Barnes all awaiting the NFL Draft now.

There are a few reasons why Albert Huggins is uniquely positioned to earn a starting role as a true freshman in 2015 but the biggest might be his ability to play either position. Most recruiting services classified Huggins as a defensive tackle but the Clemson staff apparently plans to give him a shot at defensive end. But if that doesn’t work out, they could always move him inside.

At 6-3, 289 he certainly looks the part of a defensive tackle. However, one of the other reasons why Huggins will have a decent chance at early playing time is his early enrollment. Huggins has been on campus and working out with the team since January, which gives him about eight months to get his body to where it needs to be before the season.

He will also have the opportunity to participate in spring practice, which will give the coaches a chance to see where he stands with the other linemen. From there, they will be able to make a more informed decision about where he fits within the defense, and they can develop a plan from there.

Huggins was a high four-star prospect in the 247 Sports’ composite rankings and an Army All-American. He certainly has plenty of talent–Clemson just needs to figure out how best to use it.

Next: #3 - A dominant defensive tackle