A trio of talented commitments occupy three of the limited available spots on defense in Clemson’s 2018 recruiting class.

Bradenton (Fla.) IMG Academy four-star linebacker Mike Jones pledged last June, followed by Central (S.C.) Daniel four-star linebacker Jake Venables in December and Richburg (S.C.) Lewisville four-star defensive tackle Josh Belk in January. All are ranked as top-250 prospects by 247Sports, with Belk slotting in the highest at No. 30 overall.

As it stands now, we believe the Tigers will take four defensive linemen in the 2018 class. Right now, Clemson appears best suited to sign a couple of defensive ends in this cycle considering the number of elite prospects at the position it is in contention for.

Clemson is deep at defensive end heading into the 2017 season, though attrition is expected by the 2018 season. Wilkins, a rising junior, and rising redshirt sophomore Clelin Ferrell are candidates to leave early for the NFL after the 2017 season. It is reasonable to think rising junior Austin Bryant could be faced with a potential pro decision, as well.

IMG Academy five-star end Xavier Thomas, who has publicly narrowed his recruitment down to Clemson and South Carolina, is at the top of the Tigers’ board. Clemson is also squarely in the mix for Clemmons (N.C.) West Forsyth five-star end and priority target K.J. Henry. IMG Academy four-star end Stephon Wynn, who could potentially move inside in the future, is a Clemson lean. The Tigers are also in the conversation for Stockbridge (Ga.) four-star end Brenton Cox and Snellville (Ga.) South Gwinnett four-star end Justin Mascoll. Other ends, such as Baltimore (Md.) St. Francis four-star Eyabi Anoma, Cleveland (Ohio) University Heights four-star Tyreke Smith and Montvale (N.J.) St. Joseph’s four-star Dorian Hardy, are on the radar.

Clemson has five defensive tackles on scholarship right now, not counting Wilkins, after the departure of Carlos Watkins. Scott Pagano is a rising redshirt senior, while Dexter Lawrence is on pace to turn pro after his junior season in 2018. Jabril Robinson will be a redshirt senior in 2018, while Albert Huggins will be a senior that year.

Clemson is on track to sign one tackle or possibly two in the next cycle after not taking one in 2017. Clemson landed its top target in Belk. The nation’s No. 1 defensive tackle, IMG Academy five-star Taron Vincent, visited Clemson for its Junior Day in late January and told us afterward that Clemson has cracked his top group of schools, tied for third with Alabama behind Ohio State and Florida State. Cincinnati (Ohio) Moeller four-star Aeneas Hawkins, who has listed Clemson among his top schools, too, and Hyattsville (Md.) DeMatha four-star Austin Fontaine are a couple of other tackles on the radar.

Clemson is pretty much set at linebacker in 2018 with the commitments of Jones and Venables, but could potentially take another in Virginia Beach (Va.) Bishop Sullivan five-star Teradja Mitchell, who lists Clemson among his favorites.

We think Clemson will sign two or three more defensive backs in 2018 after the Tigers signed three in the 2017 class. Clemson currently has 13 defensive backs on scholarship, with rising redshirt seniors Ryan Carter, Marcus Edmond and Korrin Wiggins the only rising seniors. Corner Mark Fields and safety Van Smith will be seniors in 2018, while Trayvon Mullen will be a junior. Clemson lost a scholarship this week when cornerback Adrian Baker announced his intention to transfer.

Clemson is a contender for a number of top defensive back prospects, including five-star cornerbacks Patrick Surtain Jr. (Fort Lauderdale, Fla.-American Heritage) and Derrik Allen (Marietta, Ga.-Lassiter). Both visited Clemson for Junior Day, as did American Heritage four-star corner Tyson Campbell and Norcross (Ga.) Atlanta Christian four-star corner Kyler McMichael.

Atlanta (Ga.) Westlake four-star corner Myles Sims is another priority target, along with Houston (Texas) Lamar five-star corner Anthony Cook. Clemson is also involved with Carrollton (Texas) Hebron four-star corner Verone McKinley, Thomson (Ga.) four-star corner Christian Tutt and Chattanooga (Tenn.) Baylor School four-star safety Brendon Harris. Grand Prairie (Texas) South Grand Prairie four-star safety Atanza Vongor and Dinwiddie (Va.) Dinwiddie County four-star athlete K’Vaughan Pope are on the radar, while Clemson extended offers to Philadelphia (Pa.) Imhotep Institute four-star safety Isheem Young, Cypress (Texas) Cypress Springs four-star safety Leon O’Neal Jr. and Baltimore (Md.) Gilman School four-star athlete Thomas Booker in January.