Clemson Football: Top 4 early 2022 recruiting class targets

Clemson football signed the No. 5 recruiting class in the country for 2021, but which four guys could help top that number in 2022?

Another recruiting class is in the books and Dabo Swinney surprised no one by signing one of the best in the cycle. In fact, the Clemson head coach signed the No. 5 group in the class of 2022 and it doesn’t look like the Tigers will be going anywhere anytime soon.

It’s not going to be easy to keep up with Alabama after the Tide signed the best recruiting class in history, but Clemson has shown that it can beat Nick Saban and Co. before.

It’s going to have to start again with an elite 2022 recruiting class.

Which four targets top the list right now for the Tigers’ 2022 class?

If Clemson is looking to snag an in-state target who could fill a need at tight end immediately, Jaleel Skinner is the Tigers’ guy.

The four-star from nearby Greer, S.C., is ranked the No. 97 overall prospect in the class and third-best tight end in the class, according to the composite. He’s going to be a hot commodity in the 2022 class, and he already is. Programs like Florida, Florida State and South Carolina are already pushing hard for him but the Gators may be the top threat to Clemson in this recruitment.

Skinner is built kind of like Kyle Pitts at 6-foot-5 and 210 pounds and he’s an athletic target who would probably be considered more as a receiver than tight end if he doesn’t add some weight.

Being a track star, Skinner has plenty of speed and he breaks the mold of a typical tight end and that’s kind of the direction the position is headed. I mean, we all saw how Pitts worked out at Florida and the Gators are trying to replicate that with Skinner, but Clemson is holding out hope.