Clemson football: 4-star S Keon Sabb is just what the Tigers needed

4-star Clemson football target Keon Sabb, a talented safety from IMG Academy, announced his commitment to the Tigers on Saturday afternoon.

Sabb, who is rated as the No. 22 overall player in the nation by 247 Sports’ composite player rankings and the No. 55 overall player by Rivals, announced a commitment to Clemson over finalists Michigan, Texas A&M, LSU, Penn State and Georgia.

He is rated as the No. 6 ATH by 247 Sports’ composite and he is the No. 3 ATH in the nation according to Rivals.

When asked about the reason that Sabb decided to choose Clemson, he mentioned the family atmosphere and how Tiger Town ‘felt like home.’

"“They’re a national championship team and Coach Swinney has a really good relationship with me,” Sabb said on CBS Sports HQ. “They made my family feel like they were at home.”"

Keon Sabb is exactly what Clemson football needed in this 2022 recruiting cycle

There’s a reason that the recruiting services have him listed as an athlete. Sabb is a versatile defender who has the athleticism and speed to play safety at the collegiate level with the physicality and size to potentially move inside the box and play a nickel/SAM position, as well. He plays wide receiver in high school, as well, and that just shows what kind of athleticism he has possessed.

The Tigers have been adamant over the last few recruiting classes about recruiting these ‘hybrid’ type players who can play a versatile role on the defense.

In this new age of College Football, it’s important to have players who are still strong enough to stop the run while also showing the foot speed needed to cover explosive wide receivers and tight ends in the slot, as well as running backs out of the backfield at times.

The potential of what we could see next year with Sabb, Barrett Carter and Trenton Simpson all taking snaps at that hybrid spot- and potentially lining up on the field together- shows the the direction that the Tigers are heading as they look to make some adjustments in dealing with the new style of offense that has been so effective against defenses the past few years.

We can’t stress how huge of a pickup this was for the Clemson football defense and one that will prove to be a major impact moving forward as soon as the 2022 season.