Clemson’s 2017 class is one of the smallest in the country. Of the schools ranked in the top 100 of Rivals.com’s team recruiting rankings, only Stanford (12) and California (10) currently have fewer commitments than Clemson’s 14 (six other schools are tied with the Tigers).

But Clemson’s 2017 class is also one of the most talented in the country. The average star rating of Clemson’s commitments according to Rivals is 3.86, the fourth-highest mark in the country behind only Ohio State (4.21), Alabama (4.08) and Stanford (3.92). Clemson’s average player rating according to 24/7Sports is 92.09, a number that is good for fifth nationally behind Ohio State (95.19), Georgia (93.34), Alabama (92.88) and Stanford (92.54). (24/7 assigns each player a point value in addition to a star rating).

So, it’s certainly quality over quantity for the class Clemson is set to sign on Wednesday. It will statistically be the best class head coach Dabo Swinney has ever brought in and statistically the best class in Clemson history.

The 2017 class’s 3.86 average star rating per Rivals is the highest since Swinney’s tenure began in 2009, besting the 2016 class’s 3.59 mark. And the ‘17 class’s 92.09 average player rating per 24/7 is Clemson’s best ever, surpassing the ‘16 class’s 90.30 player rating.

The class isn’t big, but it boasts big-time players, with 11 of Clemson’s 14 recruits being a four- or five-star. Half of Clemson’s commits are top-250 prospects by Rivals, nine of the commits are top-250 prospects by 24/7 and nine are members of ESPN’s top 300.

The 2017 class features elite talent across the board, especially at the skill positions.

Brownsburg (Ind.) five-star quarterback Hunter Johnson, who was named MVP of the U.S. Army All-American Bowl earlier this month, is a top-30 prospect nationally according to Rivals, 24/7 and ESPN.

Oak Ridge five-star wide receiver Tee Higgins is a top-20 prospect nationally according to Rivals, 24/7 and ESPN, while Knoxville Catholic four-star wide receiver Amari Rodgers is a top-100 prospect according to ESPN and a top-115 prospect according to 24/7. Both Higgins and Rodgers are two-time Mr. Football award winners in the state of Tennessee. Meanwhile, Atlanta (Ga.) Westlake five-star cornerback A.J. Terrell is a consensus top-115 prospect.

Overall, as it stands now before signing day, Clemson’s 2017 class is rated No. 11 in the country by 24/7, No. 11 by ESPN and No. 15 by Rivals. And right now, Clemson has the fewest commits of any team ranked in the top 15 of the aforementioned rankings, a testament to the amount of talent the Tigers have.

Don’t let Clemson’s class size fool you. Clemson has once again assembled an elite recruiting class — arguably its best ever.

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