By Hale McGranahan.
The looming departures at defensive tackle leave the position as priority for the Clemson coaching staff over the next two recruiting cycles.
Grady Jarrett, Josh Watson and DeShawn Williams have all occupied a spot in the Tigers’ five-man rotation since 2012. All three will have exhausted their eligibility by the time 2014 comes to a close. That’s why Gage Cervenka, Sterling Johnson and at least one more defensive tackle prospect will be added in 2015.
Albert Huggins (Orangeburg) and Christian Wilkins (Suffield, Conn.) are the primary targets for 2015, but Florida State commitment D.J. Jones (East Mississippi/JUCO) hasn’t completely closed the door on returning to his home state to play college ball.
Next season, D.J. Reader and Roderick Byers will be seniors with Carlos Watkins set to be classified as a redshirt junior. Scott Pagano will be a redshirt sophomore and Jabril Robinson will be a redshirt freshman.
Given the scheduled losses before 2016, it would appear that Clemson is set to sign at least two defensive tackles that February. The following prospects are among those we could be keeping an eye on until then.
Derrick Brown, Lanier High School – Sugar Hill, Ga.
Listed as a four-star prospect by Scout, Rivals and 247, Brown visited Clemson earlier this summer. According to Rivals, he’s the No. 44 overall prospect in the class of 2016 and the fifth-best defensive tackle. Brown has offers from the big boys in the SEC, including Georgia, and the Dawgs could be the team to beat.
Dexter Lawrence, Wake Forest-Rolesville – Wake Forest, N.C.
Ranked as a five-star prospect and the No. 1 defensive tackle in the country by Rivals, Scout, 247 and ESPN all list Lawrence as a four-star. With offers from nearly every major program in the region, Lawrence could be bound for the SEC. Keep an eye on 2015 running back Bryce Love, Lawrence’s teammate and good friend. The two could stay together at the next level.
David Marshall, Upson-Lee High School – Thomaston, Ga.
Marshall is a three-star prospect, according to all four networks, but his offer sheet looks like a four or five-star prospects’. Clemson defensive backs coach Mike Reed offered Marshall back in the spring, but he appears destined for the SEC. This could be a battle between Auburn and Alabama.
Nyles Pinckney, Whale Branch High School – Seabrook
Clemson has hosted Pinckney for visits on a number of different occasions over the last two years. While the Tigers might have an early edge over the field, Pinckney’s recruitment is far from over. He’ll continue to draw looks from some of the nation’s premier programs. Florida State, Georgia and Florida have also offered the four-star (Rivals, 247).
Julian Rochester, McEachern High School – Powder Springs, Ga.
Rochester made a stop through Clemson during the Dabo Swinney Football Camp this summer. The Tigers continue to receive strong consideration along with a few other programs from the SEC, including Auburn and LSU. Florida State is also heavily in the mix. The five-star prospect and No. 1 overall defensive tackle in the country (247) could have a decision made by this time next year.