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Wilkins to return for 2018 season

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CLEMSON -- Clemson All-American defensive tackle Christian Wilkins announced Monday evening that he will return for his senior season with the Tigers.

The third-year junior is coming off another stellar year for the Tigers where he earned AFCA, TSN and CFN All-America honors after recording over 50 tackles, 8.5 tackles for loss and five sacks.

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A first-team All-American in 2016, Wilkins also was a Nagurski finalist after totaling nearly 60 stops, 13 tackles for loss and 3.5 sacks. Wilkins, a first-team All-American in 2015 as a true freshman, registered 84 tackles despite not serving as a starter.

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The Springfield (Mass.) native is a big reason why the Tigers have fielded arguably the top defensive front in college football for each of the last three years, making three consecutive trips to the College Football Playoff.

Wilkins was the top-rated football recruit in Connecticut in 2015 before signing with Clemson. A five-star prospect, according to Rivals.com, he was billed fourth nationally among defensive tackle prospects. At the time of his signature, Wilkins was the highest-rated acquisition at defensive tackle for the Tigers since Danny Ford signed Chester McGlockton in 1988.

The Tigers lost underclassmen receivers Deon Cain and Ray-Ray McCloud to the draft earlier this month, as well as defensive back Van Smith and offensive lineman Taylor Hearn, who announced on December 20.

Offensive lineman Mitch Hyatt, defensive ends Austin Bryant and Clelin Ferrell as well as defenders (LB) Kendall Joseph and (CB) Mark Fields will remain with the Tigers for the 2018 season.

Clemson is expected to be a consensus preseason top five selection next August. Under Dabo Swinney, the Tigers have now had seven consecutive seasons of at least 10 wins.

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