Clemson set for another huge recruiting class

By Marc Hudgens  |   Tuesday, February 05, 2008  |  Comments( 4 )

Clemson Tigers
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National Signing Day is upon us, looming over every school like a glorious, dark cloud. And Clemson is no different, as it's always a nail-biting time for fans who are eagerly waiting to see which players coach Tommy Bowden and his staff have collected.

At the moment, Rivals ranks Clemson's 2008 recruiting class 14th nationally, third in the ACC behind Miami and Florida State. If the school's academic board keeps it real and National Signing Day goes off without a hitch, expect the Tigers' ranking to rise.

This is not out of the question, as Clemson had the top-ranked recruiting class in the ACC last year. The last time the team placed lower than third on the scale was 2005, when it was ranked fifth.

Right now the crown jewel in the class is five-star defensive end DaQuan Bowers of Bamberg, S.C., the top defensive end in the nation. Should the Tigers land highly touted fullback Jamie Harper of Jacksonville, Bowers' claim to that crown will be disputed because the four-star Harper is rated the top fullback in the nation. Scout, another recruiting authority, rates Harper as a five-star player.

If the Tigers get Harper, Clemson will be well on its way to landing the conference's top recruiting class for the second consecutive year.

Amid the criticism, one thing that can be said for Bowden is that he is a good recruiter. For the past three years, his staff has gumshoed its way into the Sunshine State and swiped great talent from the mouths of Florida State, Miami and even Florida. It all started with landing C.J. Spiller back in 2006, and the Tigers' recruiting train has shown no signs of stopping since then. At a glance, this year you're looking at verbal commitments or signings from a No. 1 player, two No. 5s, a No. 10, and two No. 9s in terms of position rankings.

If Clemson signs all of its verbal commitments, even without Harper, you can't deny that the remaining class is still very strong. Not to say Harper isn't needed; like all schools, Clemson needs all the top quality it can sign, and Harper is indeed a huge get. But if he decides to go with Miami, Florida or one of the several other schools on his list, it's not as if the Tigers' 2008 recruiting class will tank. If last year is any indicator, the only way it will spiral downward is if the university's academic board gets too involved.

But then again, Clemson still had the top recruiting class in the conference in spite of that.
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About Marc Hudgens

Marc Hudgens has been with RealFootball365 since 2007, covering college football, specifically Clemson and Oregon. He also writes for SouthernPigskin.com covering the ACC. He enjoys the acidic wit of Hunter S. Thompson, is a freelance graphic designer and has written several screenplays. He...
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