Anthony Messenger discusses his top 10 big board for the Clemson Tigers 2018 recruiting class.
The spring evaluation period is about to pick up and with that will come a whirl wind of recruiting news. The Clemson Tigers 2018 recruiting class is in good standing at the moment, sitting at 5th in the country according to the 247sports recruiting class rankings.
Holding commitments from the top 2 overall prospects in the country, Clemson’s recruiting class is already special, yet the Tigers are far from done. Clemson has a chance to haul in an absurd amount of 5-star recruits by the time signing day comes around.
This board is based on priority/need, rather than talent. The Tigers are going to be on the road this spring evaluating a handful of running back prospects such as, Master Teague III, Jashaun Corbin and Lyn-J Dixon. Based on those evaluations, co-offensive coordinator Tony Elliott could be extending a scholarship offer to one of the three backs.
See also: Four-star RB Master Teague talks potential Clemson offer.
There is plenty of time before National Signing Day, as such this board will continue to change so be sure to continue to check back. Without further ado, lets jump into it.
10. Justyn Ross (WR)
Ross is the most recent prospect to receive a scholarship offer from Clemson. Starring at wide out for Central High School in Phenix City, Alabama, Ross is being heavily pursued by in-state powers Alabama and Auburn.
Need-
Clemson is not in dire need of any wide receiver prospects in this recruiting class as they have just one senior on the roster coming into the 2017 season and they signed two (Tee Higgins and Amari Rodgers) in the last recruiting cycle.
That being said, Clemson’s offense is heavily predicated on the play of their wide receivers, especially the coveted 9-man position. With Mike Williams gone to the NFL, the Tigers must find the next great split to carry on the tradition of #WRU.
Outlook-
At 6-foot-4, 197 pounds Ross has a wide catch radius, however, he is more than a lanky receiver. Ross has legitimate deep threat speed. After watching his film, he reminds me of former Tiger, Martavis Bryant in his build and deceptive speed.
Despite being late to the party in his recruitment, Clemson has proven in the past that they can sneak in and land these elite wide receiver prospects, i.e. prying Tee Higgins away from Tennessee.
Don’t be surprised if Clemson is able to land Ross as he described his recent visit to Death Valley as, “one of the best visits I’ve ever been on.”
9. Darnell Jeffries (DT)
Darnell Jeffries has been getting quite familiar with the Clemson Tigers over the past couple of months. In total Jeffries has been to Death Valley four times dating back to the beginning of March.
Need-
Clemson already holds a commitment from defensive tackle, Josh Belk of in-state Lewisville high school. That being said, they are looking to take one more and Darnell Jeffries seems like the perfect suitor.
The Tigers have a wealth of depth at defensive tackle at the moment with Christian Wilkins, Dexter Lawrence, Albert Huggins, Nyles Pinckney, and Jabril Robinson. While this depth may seem excessive, it is truly necessarily along the offensive and defensive line.
With Christian Wilkins and Dexter Lawrence likely to enter the NFL draft following their respective junior seasons, Belk and Jeffries will have ample opportunities for playing time within their first two seasons at Clemson.
Outlook-
Darnell Jeffries is yet another top-flight prospect from the state of Georgia. While he may be along the slender side at 275, Jeffries is as strong as an ox. Jeffries has an elite punch and great arm extension, when watching his film I found myself feeling bad for the opposing offensive lineman.
Clemson is the clear cut favorite to land Jeffries and I believe it’s only a matter of time before he pulls the trigger on his commitment. He and the aforementioned Josh Belk will make for a formidable defensive front especially when you factor the pair of blue-chip defensive ends Clemson holds commitments from in Justin Mascoll and Xavier Thomas.
8. Tyson Campbell (CB)
Tyson Campbell has been high on Clemson’s radar from some time now, he was present at the Tigers elite junior day back in March.
Hailing from national powerhouse, American Heritage high school in Florida, Campbell has been battle tested by both teammates and opponents throughout his prep career.
Need-
Clemson is losing corner backs, Marcus Edmond and Ryan Carter following this upcoming season. Though Clemson signed two corner backs (AJ Terrell and LeAnthony Williams Jr.) in their 2017 recruiting class, they are looking to bring in a few defensive backs this recruiting cycle as well.
The Tigers already hold a commitment from ATH Derion Kendrick of South Pointe high school, whom projects as a defensive back on the next level. Being as though Kendrick is a jack-of-all-trades for his high school team, he will need time to develop as a pure defensive back.
Tyson Campbell on the other hand, is a plug and play prospect capable of starting from day one in college
Outlook-
Clemson started off hot in their recruitment of Campbell, however, they have seemed to lose some steam since hosting Campbell on the junior day in March. That being said, Campbell’s recruitment is far from over, which is good news for the Tigers.
Should Campbell take a trip up to Death Valley for Clemson’s “cookout”, the Tigers will likely gain some ground in his recruitment. The atmosphere at Clemson seems to be polarizing to recruits, not to mention the recent National Championship.
It’s vital that Clemson not fall too far behind in Campbell’s recruitment over the spring and summer months. As long as the Tigers stay in it enough to earn one of his official visits, they have a legitimate shot at landing him.
See also: 3 Prospects Clemson Must Go All In On During The Spring
7. Kyler McMichael (ATH)
Kyler McMichael is an intriguing prospect for Clemson due to his versatility. The Tigers are looking to sign a running back prospect in the 2018 recruiting class and while their attention is currently on five-star Zamir White, Kyler McMichael could be a dark horse to fill that role.
Need-
As I alluded to previously, Kyler McMichael doubles as a running back and a corner for Greater Atlanta Christian High School, which is great for Clemson. With the Tigers looking for prospects at both positions, McMichael serves as a two-for-one.
McMichaels role for the Tigers is entirely in their hands, he can play both defensive back and running back at a high level. At 6-foot-0, 200 pounds, McMichael is an explosive athlete on the gridiron.
Outlook-
Clemson appears to be the leader in McMichael’s recruitment at the moment. The fact that McMichael is from the state of Georgia is both good and bad for the Tigers.
It’s good because Clemson has recruited well in the peach state under Dabo Swinney, but, it’s bad because the Tigers will have to battle with Kirby Smart and the Bulldogs staff for McMichael.
I like Clemson’s chances at landing McMichael, especially if he is in attendance at the annual “cookout” over the summer.
6. Stephon Wynn Jr. (DE)
Stephon Wynn will be playing his senior season at IMG Academy in Bradenton, Florida, however, he is previously from in-state T.L. Hanna High School.
Need-
Clemson is loaded along the defensive line, especially at defensive end. With Clelin Ferrell, Austin Bryant, Xavier Kelly and Lasamuel Davis Clemson is set at defensive end for the foreseeable future. Let’s not forget that the Tigers also hold commitments from the No. 1 (Xavier Thomas) and No. 4 (Justin Mascoll) defensive ends in the 2018 recruiting class.
Despite their depth at defensive end, the Tigers are still in hot pursuit of Wynn and I have to say I understand why. Wynn is different from the Tigers current defensive ends in his ability to stop the run.
Stephon Wynn has violent hands at the point of attack and he appears to be much farther along at stopping the run than the other defensive ends in his class. Wynn is an able pass rusher, however, I do not expect that to be his calling card in college.
Outlook-
Recruiting is a never ending process and can change on the flip of a dime, however, right now Clemson is heavily favored to land Stephon Wynn.
It will be interesting to see how Wynn’s recruitment heats up as we near closer to signing day. Clemson’s recent success along the defensive line will surely strengthen their case, however, Georgia may be able to sell Wynn on the prospects of early playing time.
As long as Wynn doesn’t have any concerns with playing in a crowded depth chart, I can’t see the Bulldogs being able to steal him away from the Tigers.
5. Patrick Surtain Jr. (CB)
Patrick Surtain Jr. is the second member of my big board from American Heritage high school in Plantation, Florida. Surtain and the aforementioned Tyson Campbell are arguably the best tandem of high school corner backs in the country.
Need-
As I previously stated, Clemson is in need of more quality depth at defensive back, however, it would not be the end of the world if they were to miss on a few prospects.
The good thing about Clemson’s current situation in the secondary is the fact that they have the freedom to place all of their energy into a handful of elite defensive backs.
Patrick Surtain Jr. is the best cornerback in this class in my opinion, he has the length that defensive coordinators covet at corner along with the speed to cover wide outs down the field. What stands out most is Surtain’s play making ability, he is routinely intercepting passes or stripping ball carriers. He has a certain Tyrann Mathieu element to his game.
Outlook-
Ironically enough LSU – former school of Tyrann Mathieu – is currently the leader in Surtain’s recruitment.
It will be tough for Clemson to sway Surtain from LSU as the Tigers have become known for their ability to put defensive backs in the NFL. That being said, Clemson’s defense has consistently been one of the best in the country since Brent Venables came over from Oklahoma.
If Clemson can get Surtain on campus for an official visit, they may be able to sweep Surtain out from under LSU, much like they did with Travis Etienne Jr. in the 2017 recruiting class.
4. KJ Henry (DE)
If you could build a prototypical edge rusher, KJ Henry is what you would get. At 6-foot-6, 220 pounds, Henry is long and explosive off of the football.
Clemson has been the perceived leader in Henry’s recruitment for some time now.
Need-
While Clemson may not need another defensive end in this recruiting class, you do not pass up on a prospect of Henry’s caliber.
Henry is one of those players that every coach under the sun would love to have. You can not get enough long pass rushers. Current Clemson commit, Justin Mascoll is similar to Henry in the length that he has, however, I believe that Henry has a higher ceiling due to the mass that he has room to put on.
With his frame, there is a legitimate possibility that Henry develops into an outside linebacker. He will undoubtedly have to build mass is he hopes to hold up against college offensive tackles in run support.
Outlook-
At this point, I do not think there is any real competition for Clemson in Henry’s recruitment. While he has offers from nearly every power five program, Henry has not expressed any significant interest in any other program.
Should Clemson land Henry they will have compiled one of the best recruiting classes of all time in terms of defensive line prospects.
3. Jamaree Salyer (G)
The state of Georgia seems to be mass producing elite lineman in the 2018 recruiting class. Jamaree Salyer is undoubtedly one of the peach state’s finest.
Need-
Guard is one of the rare holes that Clemson has on their current roster. The Tigers have Tyrone Crowder, however, there is little talent or depth behind him. Crowder’s eligibility is up following the 2017 season, as such Clemson is in need of a capable replacement.
That’s where Jamaree Salyer comes in. At 6-foot-4, 342 pounds, Salyer is one of the most physically intimidating prospects in the entire 2018 recruiting class. Salyer’s play is equally intimidating, he’s a pancake machine, routinely dismantling opposing defensive lineman.
Should Clemson land Salyer, they would be able to insert him into the starting lineup right away.
Outlook-
While Georgia has been the leader in Salyer’s clubhouse for some time now, Clemson has reportedly gained some traction as of late.
Obviously Clemson’s easiest sell is early playing time, however, the Tigers could also sell Salyer on the opportunity to protect the nations No. 1 quarterback prospect and fellow Georgia native, Trevor Lawrence.
Salyer would provide Clemson with a run blocking presence that they have never had under Dabo Swinney.
2. Trey Hill (G)
Trey Hill is another one of the elite lineman from the state of Georgia in the 2018 recruiting class. I prefer Hill over Jamaree Salyer because I believe he has better feet and he is better in pass protection.
Need-
Hill is an ideal option to replace Tyrone Crowder along Clemson’s offensive line. The only issue with Hill is the fact that he plays primarily tackle for his high school team, so he will need time to get comfortable playing at guard.
Other than the learning curve that Hill may experience, there is little that he must work on coming into college. The Georgia native has the athleticism, strength and intensity to be a day one starter at the next level.
Outlook-
Much like Jamaree Salyer, Clemson will also have to battle the Georgia Bulldogs for the services of Trey Hill. At the moment Hill’s leader appears to be Georgia, however, Clemson has more than enough time to close that gap.
Trey Hill would be one of the best offensive lineman that Clemson has ever signed under Dabo Swinney. In the 2014 recruiting class, Mitch Hyatt was ranked as the nations No. 22 overall prospect and No. 2 offensive tackle. Hill falls just short of those marks, but is no less talented.
1. Jackson Carman (OT)
Out of all the film that I have watched, Jackson Carman is the most dominant player in the 2018 recruiting class in my opinion.
Carman currently resides in Ohio, however, after visiting Clemson the Tigers shot up to the top of his list. It will be interesting to see if Clemson is able to capitalize off of that momentum. Carman will be on hand for Ohio State’s spring game this afternoon.
Need-
Clemson currently has viable options at tackle in Sean Pollard and Mitch Hyatt, however, the ladder of the two may be able to enter the draft following the 2017 season.
Should Hyatt leave for the draft after his junior season, the Tigers would have a glaring hole at left tackle. With Jackson Carman that hole would be all but filled, Carman is college ready right now. With his rare athleticism and tenacity he is capable of anchoring the Tigers offensive line from day one.
Outlook-
Clemson’s surge up Jackson’s list may have been a knee-jerk reaction, however, I think the Tigers have the recruiting prowess to go the distance with the likes of in-state power, Ohio State.
Not only did Clemson win the 2016 National Championship, but they dismantled Ohio State 31-0 en route to winning the National Championship. That paired with the infectious atmosphere and state-of-the-art facilities at Clemson make the Tigers a serious threat in Carman’s recruitment.
Next: Is Dabo Swinney Already The Second-Best Coach In ACC History?