There’s still plenty of time to prepare for it, but Clemson is approaching a mass exodus at the safety position.

If all of the safeties return for their final season of eligibility, the Tigers will have four seniors on the 2016 squad, though it was going to be five. Of the group, Travis Blanks is the only one to redshirt — Jayron Kearse, T.J. Green and Jadar Johnson have all played in each of their first two years at Clemson.

While the season-ending ACL tear for Korrin Wiggins was hardly a positive, at least it breaks up the class. Now, because of the redshirt he’ll take in 2015, Wiggins will be a redshirt junior in next fall.

Only time will tell how things shake out with that group. Most folks assume that Kearse is bound for the league after this season. Highly-productive season by Blanks, Green and Johnson could all lead to early jumps, too. But let’s not get too far ahead of ourselves with the speculation on attrition. There’s too much football that hasn’t been played this year.

We do know this: Clemson has a significant gap among the classes at safety.

Jeff Gibson is returning from a redshirt last season, and he’s expected to help pick up the slack with Wiggins on the shelf. Van Smith and Tanner Muse were brought in with the 2015 signing haul. Muse is scheduled to redshirt this season.

Clemson might sign one safety with the 2016 class.

[autotag]Spencer Perry[/autotag], a former Florida commitment, is now pledged to Notre Dame. He continues to express an interest in taking an official visit to Clemson.

[autotag]J.J. Givens[/autotag], a South Carolina commitment, received an offer from Clemson earlier this summer, after he jumped on board with the Gamecocks. It would appear that Givens hasn’t completely closed the door on the Tigers.

Safety is a major priority for Clemson’s 2017 class. Here are a few prospects we’re keeping a close watch on:

[autotag]Cyrus Fagan[/autotag] – Mainland – Daytona Beach, Fla.

Clemson has yet to receive a visit from Fagan, who’s leaning towards Florida State. A commitment to the Seminoles could be made sooner than later. Until then, he’s a prospect we’ll continue to monitor.

[autotag]DeAngelo Gibbs[/autotag] – Peachtree Ridge – Suwanee, Ga.

The five-star prospect might be the top safety on Clemson’s board for 2017. The Tigers offered well over a year ago and he’s been on campus several times since then, so the interest seems to be mutual. Look for the regular players from the SEC to be involved here, and maybe Ohio State, too.

[autotag]Stuart Head[/autotag] – Etowah – Woodstock, Ga.

Clemson offered Head after a strong showing at the Dabo Swinney Football Camp. He returned in July with his parents for a visit, before heading up to UNC, Wake Forest and Duke. All three have offered, so have Vanderbilt and California. On the surface, Clemson seems like the team to beat.

[autotag]Devon Hunter[/autotag] – Indian River – Chesapeake, Va.

Though he’s yet to make it down for a visit, Hunter is very interest in Clemson. Virginia Tech, Alabama and Florida State are also in the mix.

[autotag]Xavier McKinney[/autotag] – Roswell, Ga.

After giving McKinney his first offer in July, Clemson is off to a great start with McKinney, who’s teammates with 2016 pledge Tre Lamar. However, just minutes after he departed the Clemson campus, Alabama called with an offer. A few days later, McKinney was in Tuscaloosa.

[autotag]Davondre ‘Tank’ Robinson[/autotag] – Lake Marion

Clemson is among several schools with an offer out to Robinson, who could be the top overall instate prospect in 2017. South Carolina is set to host him for several visits this fall. The Gamecocks could be the team to beat.