Seven Clemson Tigers Ranked Among Nations Top 100 Players

ESPN recently ranked the Top 100 players in the country, with seven Clemson Tigers being ranked.

Only Alabama had more players ranked, with eight members of the Crimson Tide making the list. Georgia also had seven players ranked.

Bryan Bresee, a junior DT who missed most of last season with a torn ACL, is the highest Clemson player ranked on the list, coming in at No. 13.

“We got a glimpse of what Bresee could do as ACC Defensive Freshman of the Year in 2020, when he had 33 tackles, 6.5 tackles for loss and four sacks. He was on his way to another big year as a sophomore, but he tore his ACL in the fourth game of the season and was out for the year. Still, he earned third-team All-ACC honors in a nod to his dominance over such a short stretch. He is back and healthy and figures to have his best year yet.”

Next up is junior DE Myles Murphy, who ranks No. 18, giving Clemson two players inside of the Top 20.

“It’s possible the biggest obstacle to Murphy’s dominance at defensive end is that he has to share the wealth with so many other talented linemen at Clemson. Still, Murphy is the best of the bunch, finishing last season with seven sacks, 14 tackles for loss, two forced fumbles and 12 runs stopped at or behind the line of scrimmage. Murphy is a future first-round pick anchoring a line that might have two or three of them.”

Junior LB Trenton Simpson ranks No. 38.

“Simpson emerged last season as the next premier linebacker at Clemson, finishing third on the team with 78 tackles, while ranking second on the team in tackles for loss (12) and sacks (six). A projected first-round pick in the 2023 NFL draft, coach Dabo Swinney described the 6-3, 240-pound Simpson this way as fall camp began: ‘He’s a freak, man,” Swinney said. “He is big, strong, fast and lean, and smart.'”

Senior DE Xavier Thomas ranks No. 53.

“A former five-star recruit, Thomas announced his arrival with style, delivering a highlight reel hit on Syracuse QB Eric Dungey to secure a Clemson win in 2018. Stardom appeared imminent, but COVID-19 and other injuries kept Thomas in check for much of the next two years. In 2021, however, he finally delivered on that promise, racking up 14 QB hurries, 3.5 sacks and two forced fumbles. He also led the ACC with a 14.1% pressure rate.”

Senior DT Tyler Davis comes in at No. 63 and sophomore DB Andrew Mukuba No. 99.

The only offensive player to make it was sophomore RB Will Shipley, who ranks No. 55.

“As a true freshman last season, Shipley came in with advance hype as the No. 2 high school running back in the country. Despite missing two games in the middle of the season with a leg injury, Shipley showed his potential — rushing for 738 yards and 11 touchdowns — the second most by a Clemson true freshman behind Travis Etienne’s 13 in 2017. His presence in the backfield in 2022 will be a huge key to Clemson’s chances to turning around its fortunes on offense.”