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

Jan 2, 2015; St. Petersburg, FL, USA; Team Highlight defensive tackle Christian Wilkins (42) returns a blocked extra point for a score against Team Armour during the first half of the 2015 Under Armour All-America Game at Tropicana Field. Mandatory Credit: Jonathan Dyer-USA TODAY Sports

3) Christian Wilkins – DT

With the aforementioned depth concerns along Clemson’s defensive line, there is no way that the Tigers’ top-rated d-lineman, Christian Wilkins, won’t get serious consideration for a starting job in 2015.

Unlike Huggins, there is no doubt about what Wilkins needs to do to crack the starting line-up. Wilkins is unquestionably a defensive tackle and, physically, he may be ready to dominate from day one.

On Signing Day, Dabo Swinney discussed the 2015 Clemson football recruiting class and pointed out that Wilkins could be standing in an NFL locker room and you wouldn’t realize that he was actually a guy preparing for his freshman year in college. At 6-4 and around 300 lbs. (depending on where you look) he would fit in well in that setting.

He also has elite athleticism and strength for the position, which he put on display during the Under Armour All-American game. Not only did he dominate in the interior against some of the best offensive linemen in the country during that game, he also did this:

Yeah, that’s big defensive tackle blocking an extra point and running it the length of the field and into the end zone. And even at the end of that run, he had the energy for a little showmanship, as he high-stepped into the end zone.

Personally, I would be shocked if Wilkins doesn’t at least crack the rotation at defensive tackle in 2015. I would be even more shocked if he doesn’t eventually turn into one of the best interior linemen in college football before his career is through.

Next: #2 - Clemson's next great receiver?