Clemson football: Commitment train rolling, but what’s next for Tigers?

Just 10 days ago Clemson football was derided as “yesterday’s news”, but the Tigers have received seven commitments since.

A few short days ago many of us were concerned about Clemson’s recruiting and I don’t mind including myself in that group.

No, I wasn’t on the ledge as many were, but I was at the door leading to the ledge because I foolishly listened to many of the national voices (and Clemson fans) that claimed Clemson was yesterday’s news, refused to adapt and were done in the day and time of NIL.

Even at my age there are still lessons to be learned.  It turns out Dabo adapted, the Tigers are doing NIL the Clemson way, recruits followed and today I look up and find the Tigers at number 3 in the 247 recruiting rankings.

Sure, not all that committed were ranked as high as some fans wanted, but my belief is that those will come, and the five star quarterback and total of six commitments in the top 268 is not chopped liver.

That’s all great and should be celebrated, but what’s next for Clemson?

A top 5 class is not out of the question according to AllClemson.com recruiting analyst Jason Priester.

"As for whether Clemson can sign a Top-5 class, it’s certainly doable. It’s inside that range right now after the commitment of DT Vic Burley. Even after the loss of WR Nathaniel Joseph. Whether it ends up inside of the Top-5 could likely depend on one or two key targets, and how they decide. It is a realistic possibility, though."

It’s shaping up to be perhaps a big couple of days for Clemson this week, too as this tweet from A.J. Hoffler had Clemson fans wondering early Friday.

After Hoffler, next up appears to be Stephiylan Green, a four star defensive lineman out of Rome, Georgia who is scheduled to commit on Wednesday, June 22.

Recruits committed to Tigers have hint the best is yet to come

Several of the recruits have hinted at big things to come and the Tigers not being done on the recruiting trail, which intrigues me and could either be inside knowledge of something bigger brewing or perhaps just belief in the process that led them to commit.

Maybe they’re referring to Hoffler and/or Green, who is expected to pick the Tigers,  or maybe it’s 4 star offensive tackle prospect Zechariah Owens who is scheduled a commitment of July 4.

Even with all that, there’s still the lingering question of Peter Woods, the 5 star defensive lineman out of Alabaster, Alabama who, for obvious reasons, is expected to commit to the Crimson Tide on July 8th.

Still, Priester submits the Tigers are still in the fight, with more than a puncher’s chance.

"With the number of visits he has taken, there is absolutely a genuine interest. You don’t visit that many times if you aren’t interested. However, this has been a big boy recruiting battle, and I think it’s coming down to Clemson and Alabama, with Florida and Jackson State as the other two finalists. Whether Swinney and company go in and poach one out of Saban’s backyard, we shall see, but I would give Clemson better than a puncher’s chance, no doubt about it."

While Clemson is not likely to maintain it’s top 5 finish to through the end of the recruiting cycle in my estimation, these are exciting times for Clemson fans as the recruits are falling one after another for the Tigers.

Exciting times indeed and the picture of this Clemson class is coming more and more into focus day by day.