Clemson Football Recruiting: Tigers making defense a priority in 2019?
Looking ahead to the future, the Clemson football program appears to be placing an emphasis on defense in their 2019 recruiting class.
Continuity is not a luxury that college football coaches have. You get players for four to five years and then they are gone. As such, schools are forced to project the losses they will experience and plan accordingly in each recruiting class.
For Clemson football, it appears that they have a need for defensive playmakers in the 2019 recruiting class.
First, let’s take a look at the Tigers’ roster.
Not taking into account potential early departures for the NFL draft, the following defenders will have eligibility left by the 2019 season.
Defensive Tackle – Dexter Lawrence, Nyles Pinckney, Jordan Williams and Josh Belk (2018 commit)
Defensive end – Clelin Ferrell, Xavier Kelly, Justin Foster, Xavier Thomas (2018 commit) and Justin Mascoll (2018 commit).
Outside linebacker – James Skalski, Baylon Spector, Logan Rudolph and Mike Jones Jr. (2018 commit)
Inside linebacker – Tre Lamar, Shaq Smith, Chad Smith and Jake Venables (2018 commit)
Corner back – Trayvon Mullen, K’Von Wallace, AJ Terrell, LeAnthony Williams, Aamir Trapp, Brian Dawkins Jr and Kyler McMichael (2018 commit).
Safety – Tanner Muse, Denzel Johnson, Isaiah Simmons, Nolan Turner and Kyle Cote.
More from Rubbing the Rock
- Clemson Football: Q&A with Florida State experts at Chop Chat
- Clemson Tigers News: New commitments, Ian Schieffelin and Jonathan Weitz
- Clemson Football needs their biggest stars to shine against Florida State
- Clemson Football: Receiver by committee could work for the Tigers
- No reason for Clemson Football to fear a Seminole takeover
Clearly depth would be lacking at multiple positions on the defensive side of the ball. Clemson’s coaching staff recognizes that this could be an issue down the road and they are recruiting accordingly.
According to 247Sports, Clemson has offered 48 prospects in the 2019 recruiting class, 33 of which are defensive players.
Of those 33 offers, 15 went to defensive lineman. Dabo Swinney and company understand that many of their defensive lineman will leave early for the NFL. Rather than resting on their laurels, Clemson is preparing to re-stock the cupboard.
While the 2019 recruiting cycle is still a ways away, the Tigers are laying the ground work for a class riddled with defensive talent.
Fall Camp Update: What position is Ray-Ray McCloud playing?
There is still plenty of time for more offers to be made and new prospects to emerge, but, I wouldn’t expect to see this defensive theme change for Clemson when the 2019 recruiting cycle rolls around.