The Clemson Tigers have seen much success in the past decade. Under the guidance of Dabo Swinney, the program has won national championships and dominated the ACC conference. However, the team has struggled to put a winning product on the field in recent years. Swinney is hoping to get Clemson back in the national conversation. The program landed a huge piece in the 2025 recruiting cycle: edge rusher Ari Watford.
Clemson Tigers Land Edge Ari Watford
On3 has Watford as the number-one edge rusher in the 2025 class. The 6-foot-5, 230-pound edge out of Norfolk, Virginia, chose the Tigers over Georgia, Ohio State, Virginia, and Syracuse. Swinney has been focusing on the defensive line on the recruiting trail, so it isn’t a surprise Watford was on his radar. In the past two cycles, Clemson has signed six ESPN 300 defensive linemen. The game is won in the trenches. If you cannot rush the quarterback, opposing offenses will carve you up.
Early Look At 2025 Team Rankings
Clemson already has eight commitments from the 2025 class. This puts them in the top five behind Notre Dame, LSU, Oklahoma, and Auburn. Obviously, there is a lot of time left, and these teams will shuffle as players announce their decisions. However, the fact Clemson has an early lead in the competition is a good thing. Players often want to go where the talent is. If Swinney is able to keep landing top-tier talent, the Tigers should find themselves with a top recruiting class.
The Clemson Tigers are hoping 2024 can be different. They lost some heartbreaking games in 2023, and if the ball bounces their way, it isn’t as bad of a season. The future is looking bright with their latest addition.
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