National Signing Day is less than a week away, and that means it's time to take a look at where the Clemson Tigers' 2016 recruiting class sits so far. Hint: it's REALLY impressive. Here's our look at Clemson's top five commits (so far) for the Class of 2016.
5) WDE Xavier Kelly (Wichita, KS)
Kelly is a versatile end who's a house on fire off the snap, but also is learning how to seal the edge effectively and push runners horizontally towards the sideline. His hand placement is his biggest hurdle, but his upside is that of a first-team All-ACC edge rusher.
4) LB Rahshaun Smith (Bradenton, FL)
Clemson defensive coordinator Brent Venables loves to employ eight-man fronts to bully opposing offenses going downhill, and that's only going to get more effective with the #2 and #3 overall inside linebackers in the Class of 2016 signed on (per 247Sports). Smith is #3 -- howvever, his explosiveness off the edge could have him running at OLB or as a tradition edge rusher before long. More Clemson National Signing Day coverage inside our Chat Sports iPhone and Android apps.
3) LB Tre Lamar (Roswell, GA)
Lamar's versatility and field vision is something that Venables is going to have a ball working with, and his natural athletic ability makes him a force whether he's on the edge or manning the point at inside linebacker. The #2-ranked inside linebacker in the nation, Lamar has all the tools necessary to captain this defense down the road.
2) APB Tavien Feaster (Spartanburg, SC)
Feaster is the #1 all-purpose back in the nation, and may be the fastest running back in the entire Class of 2016. Scouts have been marvelling at his straight-line speed for awhile now, and his ability to turn on a dime and shift his weight towards secondary holes reminds of us of Reggie Bush back in his USC days. Get more info about Clemson's 2016 class inside our Chat Sports Android and iPhone apps!
1) DT Dexter Lawrence (Wake Forest, NC)
Lawrence has a six-foot-five frame that'll easily be able to pack on 300 pounds before long, and his natural size/strength allowed him to dominate as a point-of-attack force at the prep level. He's going to open up opportunities for the aforementioned edge rushers to do wicked damage, and his own value as an interior pass rusher puts him over the top. There's a reason why he's ranked as the #2 overall player in the class.
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