Four Tigers make top-16 of Sporting News' top defenders |
Four Clemson defenders make the top-16
in Sporting News' Top-25 defensive players across college football.
The Tigers checked in at No. 2 in senior defensive tackle Christian Wilkins, No. 4 in junior defensive end Clelin Ferrell, No. 8 in junior defensive tackle Dexter Lawrence and No. 16 with senior defensive end Austin Bryant. Wilkins, who earned the Willis Award for the nation's top defensive lineman last season, was second only to Houston defensive tackle Ed Oliver on the list. "Christian Wilkins takes on a lot of roles in Clemson's defense, figuratively and literally," Sporting News writes. "He's the leader of that incredible front seven who uses good technique on top of the brute strength his 6-4, 300-pound frame offers him. His biggest asset may be his versatility: He can line up anywhere along the defensive line and excel. Plan around him all you want, but Wilkins will find a way to hurt you in 2018." Other ACC defenders on the list include Boston College safety Lukas Denis (12), Miami safety Jaquan Johnson (17) and Duke linebacker Joe Giles-Harris (19).
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