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BUFORD, Ga. –- Clemson reined in the nation’s top defensive end last year, which is tied to its continued efforts to score a comparable blue-chipper this year.

Bradenton (Fla.) IMG Academy four-star end Nolan Smith – a longtime Georgia commitment and the star of Sunday’s The Opening regional near Atlanta – remains in contact with his former IMG teammates now at Clemson: former five-star end Xavier Thomas as well as four-star linebacker Mike Jones.