Who’s the best Clemson first-round D-lineman? Bragging rights on the line Sunday.
Arguably the best defensive line in college football history has started inarguably the coolest long-distance tradition.
Each Tuesday, there’s a group FaceTime involving a who’s who of Clemson’s 2016 and 2018 national title teams.
Clelin Ferrell, taken by the Raiders fourth overall last April, is on the group video. So is Lions defensive end Austin Bryant.
And two more names that you might hear get called often during Sunday’s Dolphins-Giants game: Christian Wilkins and Dexter Lawrence, 2019 first-round picks by Miami and New York, respectively.
For Wilkins, it will be the first time he has faced another member of that heralded quartet, which made up perhaps the most talented defensive lines in NCAA history.
“He’s had a pretty solid rookie season,” Wilkins said. “I’m excited for him, the things he’s been able to do, just as a rookie coming in. Obviously I pay close attention to him. We talk every week to keep each other motivated. We keep a close relationship. That’s my guy, my right-hand man, my best friend. I’ll always watch to see how he’s doing and definitely keeping me, ‘All right, you had this this week? Let me see if I can top it.”
So far, it has been basically a draw. Wilkins has more tackles (49 to 34), but Lawrence has more sacks (2 1/2 to 1).
Neither will make the playoffs, however. In fact, Bryant is the only one of the four with a chance, and an outside one at that.
So all four might be free the first week of January — which is when they hope Clemson will appear in the national championship game for the fourth time in five years. Wilkins said they plan to attend if the Tigers beat Ohio State on Dec. 28.
Like his old coach, Dabo Swinney, Wilkins believes Clemson has been unfairly disrespected by the College Football Playoff selection committee by dropping his Tigers to third despite going undefeated as the defending champs.
“I think that’s a fair statement,” Wilkins said. “You have a national championship team one year, you go undefeated, you have a lot returning on offense. You lost a lot on defense, but still have a lot of good players there. You’re doing better statistically on defense. Guys are a year older, a year smarter, a year more talented, and you’re not talked about. Which is fine with me. I’d rather be not talked about because those teams like LSU and Ohio State have to deal with you.”
