Blue and Gold Illustrated

January 2019

Blue & Gold Illustrated: America's Foremost Authority on Notre Dame Football

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28 JANUARY 2019 BLUE & GOLD ILLUSTRATED BY COREY BODDEN W ith Dabo Swinney at the helm, Clemson was ex- pected to be one of the pre- mier programs once again during the 2018 season. The Tigers won at least 10 games each of the previous seven years, in- cluding 14 en route to winning the 2016 national title, for a combined mark of 82-15 heading into the fall. Expectations for the team went even higher when three defensive linemen — ends Clelin Ferrell and Austin Bryant, plus tackle Christian Wilkins — each decided to bypass the opportunity to potentially be- come first- or second-round NFL Draft picks to return to Clemson for one more season. The dominance of the 2018 Tigers, who won their 13 games by an av- erage of 31.7 points, starts with the defensive front thanks to the return of that trio. Ferrell racked up 17.5 tackles for loss and 10.5 sacks before the Col- lege Football Playoff to lead the team in both categories. Bryant finished second with 6.5 sacks, while Wilkins was second in tackles for loss (12.5) and third in sacks (4.5). The trio led the way for a defense that recorded 46 sacks, which was good enough for second in the Foot- ball Bowl Subdivision. "It was really like signing five-star caliber players with experience," said Larry Williams, senior writer for Ti- gerIllustrated.com. "Usually one or two of those three players don't stick around." Along with the returning trio, for- mer five-star defensive tackle Dexter Lawrence (36 tackles, seven tackles for loss) was back for his junior cam- paign, and the Tigers added five- star freshman defensive end Xavier Thomas (three sacks). "Wilkins has been good all year," Williams noted. "As of late, you've seen Lawrence start to own people and ragdoll them on a regular ba- sis. Ferrell has been an animal, too. It just feels like a veteran defensive line that has been through the wars and senses the moment later in the season. "This is what they came back for. I would be shocked if we see anything less than their best in the playoff. … GAME PREVIEW: CLEMSON BIG D The Fighting Irish and Tigers meet in the College Football Playoff semifinals on the strength of their talented defenses Junior tackle Dexter Lawrence, who notched 36 tackles (seven for loss) during the Tigers' 13-0 start, is part of a defensive front that will provide a tough challenge for the Notre Dame offensive line. PHOTO BY CARL ACKERMAN/COURTESY CLEMSON

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