FROM THE TIGER FAN SHOP: Click HERE for more in-season DEALS on officially-licensed CLEMSON apparel and gear!
1. Clemson has made its move, and the Tigers haven’t technically even lifted a finger yet.
Rivals.com issued its postseason rankings update this past week, featuring an abundance of changes and tweaks that have impacted the peripherals.
Clemson subsequently rose two spots in the network team standings, moving up from No. 10 to No. 8.
Join Tigerillustrated.com subscribers on The West Zone message board!
Part of that had to do with bumps for several Tigers commitments; Suwanee (Ga.) North Gwinnett linebacker Barrett Carter added the prized fifth star, while Austin (Texas) Lyndon B. Johnson safety Andrew Mukuba and Winston-Salem (N.C.) Prep defensive end Zaire Patterson advanced to four-star stature with introductory places in the Rivals250.
Clemson also benefited from the goings elsewhere.
A pair of Tennessee commitments abandoned ship, while Notre Dame had a pair of pledges drop from the Rivals250.
That combined to boost the Tigers to 2,329 points, behind No. 6 Georgia (2,457) and No. 7 USC (2,447) while ahead of No. 9 Michigan (2,327) and No. 10 Notre Dame (2,282).
Clemson is looking to extend its streak to four straight top-10 classes, and sixth in the last seven cycles.
The lone outlier, of course, came in 2017 when the Tigers came in at No. 22 because it had room for a mere 14 signees. They rated fourth nationally in star average, though, because of five-stars A.J. Terrell, Tee Higgins and Hunter Johnson … and a high-three star named Travis Etienne.
A top-10 finish isn’t an end-all, be-all. But it is a benchmark by which recruiting is often measured in the public eye, and closing with a win on just one remaining blue-chipper – more on those as we go along – would cement that distinction.
2. The early signing period begins Dec. 16, now nine days away.
Resolution on one target should come sooner.
Covington (Ga.) Newton four-star cornerback Nyland Green is slated to reveal his destination Tuesday morning during a ceremony that begins around 10 a.m. at his school.
