Clemson Football: How Dabo Swinney’s recruiting pitch has evolved

GLENDALE, ARIZONA - DECEMBER 28: Head coach Dabo Swinney of the Clemson Tigers celebrates his teams 29-23 win over the Ohio State Buckeyes in the College Football Playoff Semifinal at the PlayStation Fiesta Bowl at State Farm Stadium on December 28, 2019 in Glendale, Arizona. (Photo by Norm Hall/Getty Images) /

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TAMPA, FL – JANUARY 09: Quarterback Deshaun Watson #4 of the Clemson Tigers celebrates with the College Football Playoff National Championship Trophy after defeating the Alabama Crimson Tide 35-31 to win the 2017 College Football Playoff National Championship Game at Raymond James Stadium on January 9, 2017 in Tampa, Florida. (Photo by Streeter Lecka/Getty Images) /

Landing on the national stage (2015-17)…

After beating Oklahoma in the Russell Athletic Bowl, Clemson came into the 2015 season looking to take a big step forward with Deshaun Watson at quarterback.

The Tigers did just that.

Over the course of the 2015 and 2016 seasons, we really saw this program land on the national stage. Clemson competed with Alabama in 2015 and then took the Crimson Tide down in 2016. Though many analysts questioned if they would be able to continue to contend and be on the national stage after Watson, they proved they could do just that by locking up another CFB Playoff berth during the 2017 season.

The recruiting pitch shifted from ‘look at our facilities and the fact that we’re serious about competing’ to ‘we have top-notch facilities, great developers of talent and we’re now one of the top programs in the country.’

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