Can Anyone Catch Clemson on Signing Day?

The Early Signing Period is here in college football and entering the day of movement, commitments and flips, it's defending national champion Clemson setting the pace. Will it last?

Clemson is putting together perhaps its top recruiting class of all-time for the 2020 cycle and it enters the December Early Signing Period Wednesday pacing the nation. Several powerhouse programs are on its heels and have a shot at finishing No. 1. 

The reason classes move up and down any ranking list on this day, the first seniors can sign a National Letter of Intent (NLI), is a top prospect coming to a decision. Many at or near the top of the SI All-American rankings list are vying for the same handful of prospects, so tracking SI All-Americans Jordan Burch, Justin Flowe and coveted linebacker Phillip Webb will go a long way towards determining an end-of-year recruiting champ. 

As SIAA breaks down in the above video it could be another set of Tigers, the red-hot LSU Tigers, making the strongest run at the top spot. May the potential national championship matchup also reflect the 1-2 finish in recruiting? One way or another, it may not be a bad bet. 

In looking at Burch, the top prospect from South Carolina and most coveted uncommtited prospect entering Signing Day, LSU and Georgia have captured most of the late buzz. Clemson is the only in-state program with a true shot for the 6-foot-5, 275-pound specimen but at this point the SEC programs may be in better shape. Should LSU be the pick, the race for No. 1 may be a photo finish. 

A safer bet entering the day for Ed Orgeron and company may be Webb, the Peach State standout also considering Alabama and Florida down the stretch. Alabama is jam-packed full of linebackers in the class and Florida has long seemed like a dark horse for one of the best available defenders in the land. 

What about Alabama and Ohio State?

Not only has some of the buzz faded in the last few days with Alabama's chances at No. 1, it may drop to third when all is said and done. Burch and Webb seem like longer shots for Nick Saban and company and coveted defensive tackle commitment Tim Smith is on flip-watch following a major push from Florida. However, should it flip Oklahoma running back commitment Jase McClellan, the Crimson Tide may be back in it. 

Ohio State has a deep, strong class that belongs in the top five perhaps regardless of who Clemson and the SEC powers add in the next 24 hours. Adding the top uncommitted quarterback in the class, Elite 11 MVP C.J. Stroud, would be the icing on the cake for Ryan Day to lock in another top group.

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