Clemson’s 23-man signing class is chalk full of talent.
After closely watching most of them over the last year or more, TheClemsonInsider has put together a list of superlatives.
It’s no coincidence that most of the nods went to players for the defensive side of the ball. Dabo Swinney, Brent Venables and the rest of the Tigers’ defensive have three five-stars already on campus and there are future stars at every level.
Best Man – Dexter Lawrence
Duh. The No. 2 overall player in the country is there for a reason. Lawrence brings a unique blend of size, power and agility that made him a five-star in the minds of anybody with a pulse. Now that he’s already on campus, it’s almost a given that he’ll play work his way onto the depth chart by Sept. 3.
Earliest Impact (Defense) – Shaq Smith
If you wanted to make a case for the other two five-stars, go right on ahead. All three are probably going to see the field this fall. What makes Smith so intriguing for 2016 is what he could add on third-down as a pass rusher, and Clemson will need help in that department with Shaq Lawson and Kevin Dodd off to the NFL.
Earliest Impact (Offense) – Tavien Feaster
Clemson’s running game is in good hands with Wayne Gallman and Deshaun Watson. Adam Choice figures to play a significant part. Tyshon Dye and C.J. Fuller could figure into the mix, too. Feaster should find the field in some capacity in 2016, whether that’s in the passing game, return game or as a change of pace running back.
Most Upside – Xavier Kelly
Just look at Kelly’s high school highlights. Not only is he bigger and stronger than everybody else on the field, he’s faster. Kelly runs over, through and around anyone who crosses his path. It’s not a knock, but he didn’t have to play with much technique. Just imagine what he picks up with a little bit of coaching from Marion Hobby and Dan Brooks.
Sleeper – K’Von Wallace
It’s not even close. There is such a thing as love at first site when it comes to highlights. Wallace does a little bit of everything and looks awfully good doing it as a senior. Dabo Swinney thinks he could be a jack of all trades in the Clemson secondary like current New York Jets free safety Marcus Gilchrist.
The Media Guy – Chandler Reeves
These days, most guys coming out of high school are pretty polished with the media. Clemson’s 2016 class has plenty of potential media-friendly dudes. Generally, offensive linemen are a beat reporter’s best friend. All four of Clemson’s newest big uglies from that side of the ball are quotable. Reeves gets the nod as the best, but it’s a close race.