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Article Post & Courier - Clemson Recruiting Success
Jan 27, 2016, 10:21 AM
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Clemson’s big season built on years of recruiting success
The foundation for Clemson’s run at a national championship was set long before the Tigers opened the 2015 season.
Recruiting Rankings
Clemson Recruiting Rankings Through the Years
Year Rivals ESPN Scout
2011 8th 8th 12th
2012 14th 10th 17th
2013 14th 13th 12th
2014 13th 12th 28th
2015 4th 4th 15th
2016 8th* 8th* 16th*
*-as of Jan. 27
One could trace the Tigers’ emergence onto the national stage even before any of the current players had signed with Clemson.
Clemson offensive lineman Eric Mac Lain (78), quarterback Deshaun Watson (4), defensive tackle Kevin Dodd (98) and defensive tackle Carlos Watkins (94) were Clemson’s team captains. Gwinn Davis/SC News Exchange
Enlarge?Clemson offensive lineman Eric Mac Lain (78), quarterback Deshaun Watson (4), defensive tackle Kevin Dodd (98) and defensive tackle Carlos Watkins (94) were Clemson’s team captains. Gwinn Davis/SC News Exchange
The Tigers’ climb toward the 2015 ACC championship and appearance in the College Football Playoff national championship began back in 2006 when a little-known assistant coach lured one of Florida’s top recruits to the rural upstate campus.
The coach was Clemson wide receivers assistant Dabo Swinney. The player was Union County High School (Lake Butler, Fla.) running back C.J. Spiller, a five-star recruit ranked as the nation’s No. 8 overall prospect.
Every college in the country wanted Spiller, including Alabama, Florida, Florida State and Miami. Urban Meyer was leading Florida to a national title and many believed that Spiller would end up signing with the Gators.
But Swinney and former head coach Tommy Bowden won Spiller’s heart and got his signature.
“For me, the signing of C.J. Spiller was pivotal for Clemson, it was a turning point,” said Rivals.com national recruiting analyst Mike Farrell. “It’s when Clemson went into Florida and Florida State’s backyard and signed one of the best players in the country. It really established them on a national stage. It also opened the door to the state of Florida for Clemson. Once Spiller went to Clemson, they started to get some traction in Florida.”
The momentum from Spiller’s signing continued and eventually led to the talent pool the Tigers had when they faced Alabama in the national title game.
Of the five recruiting classes — 2011 to 2015 — that made up the Tigers’ football team this past season, all but one were ranked in the top 20 by the three major recruiting services (Rivals, ESPN and Scout).
With National Signing Day one week away, Clemson’s 2016 recruiting class is ranked No. 8 by Rivals and ESPN. Scout ranks the class 16th.
“Clemson has done a great job locking down their main recruiting areas,” Farrell said. “That’s South Carolina, North Carolina, Georgia and Florida. They really don’t go too much outside those four states and it has served them well. If there’s a top recruit in those four states, you can bet that Clemson is in the mix.”
Of Clemson’s 22 starting players on the field in the national championship game, only one was five-star rated recruit, 11 were four-star recruits, eight were three-star rated players, one was a two-star recruit and one was a walk-on. Quarterback Deshaun Watson was the lone five-star recruit, while wide receiver Hunter Renfrow was a walk-on.
“The stars matter,” Farrell said. “People don’t think the system works or teams can get by with lower-rated players, but it’s just not true. Sure, you’ve got your TCUs and Baylors and Boise States, but Alabama, Clemson, Michigan State and Oklahoma have been among the top-ranked teams on signing days for the past four or five years. If you look at Clemson’s starting lineup, they’ve got quality players and quality depth across the board. It’s no accident that Clemson made it to the national championship game.”
Wide receiver Sammy Watkins was the marquee player from that 2011 class, along with linebacker Stephone Anthony and running back Mike Bellamy. Watkins and Anthony went on to the NFL, along with Martavis Bryant. Watkins, Anthony and Bellamy were five-star recruits and helped pave the way for future classes.
“Watkins and Anthony and Bryant were not on the field Monday night, but you could feel their presence,” Farrell said. “That 2011 class was really the foundation for their national championship run. They got some big names, some playmakers in that class and then got the ball rolling for Clemson.”
The 2011 class, which was ranked eighth by Rivals and ESPN and 12th by Scout, also had key players like defensive end Kevin Dodd, starting guard Eric MacLain, wide receiver Charone Peake and middle linebacker B.J. Goodson.
“That class had a lot of depth and give the Clemson coaching staff a lot of credit, they did a good job developing those players,” Farrell said.
It was the signing of quarterback Deshaun Watson that pushed the Tigers over the top. He finished with 478 yards of total offense against Alabama’s vaunted defense.
“He’s a difference-maker, a program-changer,” Farrell said. “Clemson got on him early and never let up. They don’t get to the national championship game without Deshaun Watson. You put him on just about any team in the country and they become contenders. He’s that good.”
Farrell said that recruits gravitate to Swinney and his youth, enthusiasm and down-home persona.
“Clemson isn’t exactly a destination spot,” Farrell said. “It’s out in the middle of nowhere, but kids come in and just fall in love with it. Not just the country kids either. The city kids get there and love it, too. Dabo is such a genuine guy and the parents love him.”
Clemson’s recruiting class rankings:
Year Rivals ESPN Scout
2011 8th 8th 12th
2012 14th 10th 17th
2013 14th 13th 12th
2014 13th 12th 28th
2015 4th 4th 15th
2016* 8th 8th 16th
*-Projected (National Signing Day is Feb. 3)
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