Class of 2013 recruits will have final say in Alabama-Clemson game
By Corey Long
Published:
Looking at the past four years of head-to-head recruiting from Alabama and Clemson, it’s clear that Alabama has put together stronger classes with slightly less attrition.
The Tide had a long string of No. 1-ranked classes and they have been able to get major production from those groups. Clemson has been around the top 15 and their 2015 class is the best one, in terms of rankings, in Dabo Sweeney’s tenure at the school.
Not surprisingly, players in the Class of 2013 should have the greatest impact on this game. For Alabama, that includes stars Derrick Henry, Reuben Foster and Eddie Jackson. For Clemson, it’s Shaq Lawson, Cordrea Tankersley, Mackensie Alexander and Wayne Gallman.
Here’s how the classes break down:
Alabama Crimson Tide
2012
National ranking – 1
Total players/rankings – 25 players (3 five-stars, 15 four-stars, 7 three-stars)
Notables no longer on team – S Landon Collins (NFL); S Eddie Williams (Dismissal); RB T.J. Yeldon (NFL); WR Amari Cooper (NFL); WR Chris Black (transfer).
Key contributors – LB Reggie Ragland; WR Cyrus Jones; RB Kenyan Drake; OG Alphonse Taylor; S Geno Smith; DT Darren Lake.
2013
National ranking – 1
Total players/rankings –26 players (6 five-stars, 12 four-stars, 8 three-stars)
Notables no longer on team –DT Dee Liner (transfer); RB Alvin Kamara (transfer); RB Altee Tenpenny (transfer, deceased); RB Tyren Jones (dismissed).
Key contributors – RB Derrick Henry; LB Reuben Foster; DL Jonathan Allen; TE O.J. Howard; DL A’Shawn Robinson; S Eddie Jackson.
2014
National ranking – 1
Total players/rankings – 28 players (6 five-stars, 14 four-stars, 4 three-stars, 3 unranked)
Key contributors – OT Cameron Robinson; CB Marlon Humphrey; OT Dominick Jackson
2015
National ranking – 1
Total players/rankings – 23 players (6 five-stars, 14 four-stars, 3 three-stars)
Notables no longer on team – DT Jonathan Taylor (dismissed)
Key contributors – WR Calvin Ridley; DB Minkah Fitzpatrick; DT Da’Ron Payne.
Clemson Tigers
2012
National ranking – 15
Total players/rankings – 19 players (8 four-stars, 9 three-stars, 2 unranked)
Notables no longer on team – QB Chad Kelly (dismissed, transfer); TE Jay Jay McCullough (dismissed); S Ronald Geohaghan (transfer); OL Patrick DeStefano (career-ending injury).
Key contributors – DT Carlos Watkins; LB Travis Blanks; OC Jay Guillermo.
2013
National ranking – 15
Total players/rankings –22 players (1 five-stars, 10 four-stars, 10 three-stars, 1 two-star)
Notables no longer on team – DL Ebenezer Ogundeko (dismissed);
Key contributors – DL Shaq Lawson; CB Cordrea Tankersley; S Jayron Kearse; CB Mackensie Alexander; RB Wayne Gallmen (projected as a linebacker); LB Ben Boulware; TE Jordan Leggett; S T.J. Green
2014
National ranking – 17
Total players/rankings – 18 players (10 four-stars, 8 three-stars)
Notables no longer on team – WR Demarre Kitt (transfer); WR Kyrin Priester (dismissed)
Key contributors – QB Deshaun Watson; WR Artavis Scott;
2015
National ranking – 8
Total players/rankings – 23 players (3 five stars, 9 four stars, 11 three stars)
Key contributors – WR Deon Cain; OL Mitch Hyatt; WR Ray-Ray McCloud; DL Austin Bryant; TE Garrett Williams
Corey Long is a freelance writer for SaturdayDownSouth.com. Follow Corey on Twitter @CoreyLong.
