Clemson football: 2021 Tigers are most talented in program history

A reoccurring theme among Clemson football is that the program keeps getting better and better. Entering 2020, we said that this was the most talented team in program history and it was. While that team was unable to secure the program’s fourth national title matters little when it comes down to the level of talent.

The same will be said about Clemson football in 2021.

This will be the most talented team that has ever been assembled by any coach in the 126 years of Clemson football.

247Sports keeps a ranking of every recruit that a program has signed going back more than 20 years. Looking over this list brings backs a lot of memories of years past – players like Airese Currie, Da’Quan Bowers. Roscoe Crosby and CJ Spiller can be found on this list.

According to 247Sports, the Top 10 highest-rated recruits in Clemson football history are:

Trevor Lawrence, Da’Quan Bowers, Bryan Bresee, Dexter Lawrence, Xavier Thomas, Roscoe Crosby, Myles Murphy, DJ Uiagalelei, KJ Henry, and Tristan Leigh.

The Clemson football defense is loaded.

If you are keeping count at home, that means six of the Top 10 all-time recruits in Clemson football history are part of the 2021 team and only Tristan Leigh has not taken a college snap – though he is expected to battle for playing time this Fall.

More importantly, four of those six players will get significant playing time upfront for defensive coordinator Brent Venables. Nothing helps out a young struggling secondary like a dominant defensive line and Tiger fans saw this first hand in 2018 when the Power Rangers (Christian Wilkins, Dexter Lawrence, Austin Bryant, and Clelin Ferrell) led the Tigers to a national championship.

Additionally, 20 of the 50 highest-rated Clemson football players of all time will take the field for the Tigers in 2021.

Head coach Dabo Swinney seems to be in really good hands post-spring practice.

Of the 19 that were part of the 2021 Clemson football signing class, 12 of them enrolled early and participated in spring practice which really helped in positions that needed depth such as running back and the secondary.

Two of the three five-star rated players, Tristan Leigh and Barrett Carter, are going to join the Tigers this summer and are expected to compete for playing time immediately. Leigh is considered to the 10th highest rated Clemson football signee while Carter is listed as the 30th best all-time.

The Tigers showing under Swinney that they don’t rebuild they simply reload and 10 years later, the best is yet to come.