Clemson's 2018 D-line should scare the living daylights out of everyone
Clemson signed two five-star defensive linemen during the early signing period, and they'll be the least of every opponent's worries come the 2018 season.
The Tigers announced Monday that defensive tackle Christian Wilkins will stay in school for his senior season, passing on the NFL draft where he was locked into the first round of mock drafts nationwide.
Known for his relentless motor in the trenches, Wilkins will return with fellow tackle Dexter Lawrence - who wasn't eligible for the 2018 draft but could be a top-10 selection next year - and ends Clelin Ferrell and Austin Bryant. Like Wilkins, Ferrell and Bryant chose to return for their fourth campaigns instead of entering the draft, where they were projected to be picked early.
Around Clemson, S.C., the Tigers' defensive linemen are known as Power Rangers - the nickname was inspired by a Halloween gimmick in 2016. The numbers posted by the four starters in 2017 suggest the act is anything but a gimmick, though:
| Player | Tackles | Sacks |
|---|---|---|
| C. Ferrell | 66 | 9.5 |
| C. Wilkins | 60 | 4.5 |
| D. Lawrence* | 34 | 2.5 |
| A. Bryant | 50 | 8.5 |
*Missed three games
Of the foursome, Bryant was the only lineman not named a first-team All American in 2017 - don't worry, he was still an All-ACC selection.
Their stats are impressive, but not even the numbers fully capture their collective impact. Ask Auburn quarterback Jarrett Stidham - who posted his lowest passer rating of the year in Week 2 against Clemson - about the ability of the Tigers' D-line to take over a game.
In the event the quartet requires a reinforcement or two at some point in 2018, there will be plenty in stock from which to summon. Five-star prospects Xavier Thomas and K.J. Henry both made splashes when they signed with the Tigers last month, and both were expected - and still might - contribute immediately.
Then there are the incoming four stars - tackles Josh Belk and Darnell Jeffries, and end Justin Mascoll who could see playing time. And don't forget the unheralded players scattered throughout the depth chart who've been quietly developing within Brent Venables' system for the last couple of years.
Much has been made in recent seasons about Alabama's vaunted defensive lines, and rightfully so, but the unit Clemson will put out in 2018 will easily be the scariest in the country - and it won't need Halloween costumes to prove it.