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National Signing Day 2016: Clemson football recruiting class

By Dustin Hull

Dec 31, 2015; Miami Gardens, FL, USA; Clemson Tigers head coach Dabo Swinney celebrates with linebacker Ben Boulware (10) and quarterback Deshaun Watson (4) after defeating the Oklahoma Sooners in the 2015 CFP semifinal at the Orange Bowl at Sun Life Stadium. Clemson won 37-17. Mandatory Credit: Robert Duyos-USA TODAY Sports
Dec 31, 2015; Miami Gardens, FL, USA; Clemson Tigers head coach Dabo Swinney celebrates with linebacker Ben Boulware (10) and quarterback Deshaun Watson (4) after defeating the Oklahoma Sooners in the 2015 CFP semifinal at the Orange Bowl at Sun Life Stadium. Clemson won 37-17. Mandatory Credit: Robert Duyos-USA TODAY Sports /
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The Clemson football recruiting class looks to give the Tigers the extra boost they need to win the National Championship.

Coming off the most impressive finish in over two decades for his program, Clemson Tigers head coach Dabo Swinney hasn’t lost any of that momentum in recruiting.

Related Story: Top 10 classes headed into National Signing Day

After earning a berth in the national championship and taking favorite Alabama to the wire, the Clemson 2016 recruiting class has been very reflective of such accomplishment. Not only have the Tigers brought on likely the best collection of front-seven defenders, but has also grabbed the recruit who could become the heir to Deshaun Watson.

The biggest—and we mean this in multiple ways—takeaway from the 2016 class may just be Dexter Lawrence, the 6’4”, 327-pound behemoth who ranks No. 2 overall in the country. There’s no doubt this guy will be ready to stuff the running lanes right from the get-go, and there’s no reason he wouldn’t fill a starting role immediately.

He’ll have fresh help on the line from No. 8, according to 247 Sports, weak-side DE Xavier Kelly, a 240-pound end with 4.5 speed. With Shaq Lawson headed to the NFL, Kelly may see some action as well in 2016. Clemson has also boosted their defensive depth with the likes of Tre Lemar and Rahshaun Smith, the No. 2 and No. 3 ILB’s in this class.

On offense, the biggest signing has to be that of Tavien Feaster, the top all-purpose back in 2016, but an equally important piece was also added at quarterback. That’s where Clemson grabbed Zerrick Cooper, a 4-star dual-threat QB who has a serious chance to start as a sophomore (or redshirt freshman) if Deshaun Watson declares early for the NFL draft.

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Cooper will also have a great core group of receivers to grow with, as Cornell Powell, Diondre Overton, and Tavares Chase are all highly-touted wide outs.

Will the Clemson recruiting class be enough to lift Deshaun Watson and the Tigers to the National Championship next year?

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