Clemson football: Tigers aren’t likely to nab many 5-stars in 2022 class

NEW ORLEANS, LOUISIANA - JANUARY 01: Head coach Dabo Swinney of the Clemson Tigers against the Ohio State Buckeyes in the second quarter during the College Football Playoff semifinal game at the Allstate Sugar Bowl at Mercedes-Benz Superdome on January 01, 2021 in New Orleans, Louisiana. (Photo by Chris Graythen/Getty Images)
NEW ORLEANS, LOUISIANA - JANUARY 01: Head coach Dabo Swinney of the Clemson Tigers against the Ohio State Buckeyes in the second quarter during the College Football Playoff semifinal game at the Allstate Sugar Bowl at Mercedes-Benz Superdome on January 01, 2021 in New Orleans, Louisiana. (Photo by Chris Graythen/Getty Images)

Clemson football isn’t likely to nab many 5-star in the 2022 recruiting class

The Clemson football program has recruited at as high of a level as any other program in the nation over the last half-decade and the Tigers continue to bring in quality talent.

Clemson doesn’t recruit like other programs, though. The Tigers make evaluations on talent, character and program fit before they make an offer and then they focus in on just a few prospects, rather than casting a big net and bringing in huge classes.

As a result, you don’t see Clemson football ranked as the top class in the nation most times. The Tigers address the needs that they have and then they move on. They don’t worry about recruiting rankings or what experts have to say about their class.

That being said, that can’t stop fans from wanting to see the star-ratings. There’s no doubt that almost every time the Tigers bring in a 5-star, he turns out to be a special player.

In the 2022 recruiting class, though, Clemson football fans shouldn’t expect a plethora of 5-star commitments. At this point, the Tigers have offered just 16 total 5-stars (according to the 247 Sports’ Composite Player Rankings).

Here’s a look at those offers:

  • QB Ty Simpson
  • RB Emmanuel Henderson
  • WR Caleb Burton (OSU commit)
  • DE Jeremiah Alexander
  • DE Enai White
  • DE Shamar Stewart
  • DT Walter Nolan
  • DT Travis Shaw
  • DT Gabriel Brownlow-Dindy
  • LB Shawn Murphy
  • CB Domani Jackson (USC commit)
  • CB Travis Hunter (FSU commit)
  • CB Denver Harris
  • CB Jaheim Singletary (OSU commit)
  • ATH Keon Sabb
  • ATH Malaki Starks

The 5-stars who Clemson football has a chance to land

There are several 5-stars that we see every program in the country (basically) offer who show no real interest in that program.

At this point, that can be said about many of these offers.

As far as current who have shown interest in Clemson, the top of list are QB Simpson, DE Alexander, DE Stewart, DT Nolan, DT Shaw and LB Murphy. While many recruits are still early in the process, we would still say something would need to change for the Tigers to land any of these not named Travis Shaw.

Ty Simpson- who makes his decision Friday afternoon- seems like an Alabama commitment. Walter Nolan seems to be leaning towards Georgia.

So, when it comes down to it, Clemson might only have one commitment from a 5-star (if that) in this 2022 class. There are a few 4-star targets and commitments who could pick up that coveted fifth star before it’s all said and done like DE Cyrus Moss, CB Jeadyn Lukus (who once was a consensus 5-star) and even potential QB offer Cade Klubnik.

But, for now, a path to several 5-stars doesn’t seem all that likely. I wouldn’t worry too much about it, though. Dabo Swinney is doing just fine.

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