View our full coverage of National Signing Day at ACC Signing Day Central
Head Coach: Dabo Swinney
Total Number of Commitments: 19
After failing short of 10 wins every season for 20 straight years, the 2015 campaign marked Clemson’s fifth consecutive season of double-digit victories. Dabo Swinney has changed the culture of the program since becoming a head coach midway through the 2008 season, but this recent stretch of success has coincided with a period in which the Tigers are consistently signing some of the best recruiting classes in the ACC.
Each of the Tigers’ last seven classes, including the 2016 signing group, has been among the top three in the conference according to Rivals.com team rankings. On an annual basis, Swinney’s staff is winning recruiting battles over the likes of Alabama, Florida and Florida State, and as a result, program perception has changed for the better.
After signing a large class in 2015, Clemson wasn’t expected to take nearly as many prospects this year. Following the team’s run to the national championship game, however, six underclassmen entered their names in the 2016 NFL Draft, freeing up more scholarships for this cycle.
The Tigers have produced four NFL first-round draft picks in the last three years, and they could have multiple first-rounders again come April. That, combined with what Swinney’s teams have done on the field over the last five years, makes Clemson one of the most attractive options for top prospects across the country. With another highly rated class on the way in this year, that doesn’t appear to be something that’s going to change anytime soon. Get access to the rest of this article and unlimited access to the rest of ACCSports.com when you upgrade to Premium Access! Click on the button below to view all the benefits of becoming a Premium Access member.Get the rest of the story right now with Premium Access!
Premium Access members receive: