Five Tigers make top-18 of Athlon player rankings |
There's no doubt Clemson returns a roster stacked with elite talent. A look at the best 2018 has to offer makes the Tigers stand out that much more.
Athlon ranked the top-50 returning players and placed five Clemson products in the top-18, joining Ohio State as the only team to have multiple players in the top-20 (two for Ohio State). Christian Wilkins paces the Tigers at No. 2 in the rankings, followed by Clelin Ferrell (4), Mitch Hyatt (12), Austin Bryant (17) and Dexter Lawrence (18). “Bryant and Clelin Ferrell form the nation’s best combination at end for 2018,” Athlon’s Steven Lassan writes. Alabama totaled three top-50 players, starting with rising sophomore QB Tua Tagovailoa at No. 27. Miami was the only other ACC team with multiple top-50 players, in linebacker Shaq Quarterman (42) and safety Jaquan Johnson (45). Players on the 2018 Clemson slate include BC RB AJ Dillon (19), Duke LB Joe Giles-Harris (41) and Florida State RB Cam Akers (50). Wilkins earned the Willis Award last season as the nation’s top defensive lineman after posting 53 tackles, 8.5 TFL, 4.5 sacks, 11 QB pressures and four pass breakups. Joining Deshaun Watson and Sammy Watkins, Ferrell became just the third Clemson underclassmen to earn first-team All-America honors with 63 tackles, 18 TFL, 9.5 sacks, 12 QB pressures, two caused fumbles and a pass breakup. Bryant also garnered a first-team All-America honor with 58 tackles, 15.5 TFL, 8.5 sacks, 12 QB pressures, two pass breakups, two caused fumbles and an interception. Lawrence played through injuries to total 39 stops, 3 TFL, 2.5 sacks, 5 QB pressures, a pass breakup and a caused fumble. Another first-team All-American, Hyatt started all 13 games to bring his total to 42 starts in 43 career games. He posted 30 knockdowns in 842 snaps last season.
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