New Foe Emerging: Dabo Swinney and the Defending National Champions are Still the Hottest Team in America

Urban Meyer and Nick Saban have rightfully gained the reputation of being college football's top coaches and recruiters. On a yearly basis, discussion swirls around whether or not a team – typically Ohio State – will be able to end Alabama's reign atop the national recruiting rankings.

Coaches like Jimbo Fisher and even Jim Harbaugh are probably in the next tier, but it looks as though Dabo Swinney has officially jumped into the Meyer and Saban category. Maybe it's no surprise given Clemson's success over the past two years, but the defending national champs are really on a tear this offseason.

The Ohio State staff is certainly aware of the Clemson surge, and the Buckeyes are going to have to tango with the Tigers for a number of top prospects for the 2018 recruiting class. Clearly there are several national names that have been offered by both programs, but there are a handful that stand out above the rest at the moment.

Clemson is actually in a much trickier spot than Ohio State. Coming off a 2017 class that saw just 14 signees, the Tigers are once again expecting a very small class. Speculation at the moment seems to be that it could finish in the mid-teens yet again, which is really crazy to think that a powerhouse program could have back-to-back classes of that size.

While it's surely to influence their final spot in the team rankings, it's still going to be an impressive group for Swinney. The Tigers currently have eight commitments – two of the five-star variety – and could end up signing three of the nation's top-four prospects. Their 2018 class checks in at No. 5 in the country right now.

Zamir White is back in Columbus this weekend, and while Ohio State and Clemson are both very much in the hunt, it's the Georgia Bulldogs who are likely out in front. The nation's top tailback has been to Athens and Clemson in recent weeks, so this visit will be crucial if Tony Alford and the Buckeyes want to make a move. The five-star is expected to announce a decision in late June. 

We're all probably familiar with the Jackson Carman story by now. The country's top tackle and No. 1 player in Ohio recently named Clemson as his new leader. The 6-foot-6 and now 347-pounder connected with Dabo Swinney and the Clemson staff last month, and it's obvious that things went quite well.

While in Cleveland last weekend for Nike's The Opening regional event, the five-star already seemed to be backing off the Clemson talk a bit; instead labeling the two schools as 1a and 1b on his list of favorites. Carman is back in Columbus this weekend and while no one appears to be buying what he's saying, it's still worth paying attention to. 

A lot is yet to unfold for Anthony Cook, the No. 2 corner in America. The Texan is in Columbus as we speak and Ohio State has been mentioned as a favorite along with Texas, LSU, and Clemson. The Tigers made up a ton of ground when they hosted the five-star in March, and the Buckeyes will hope to do the same this weekend.

North Carolina's KJ Henry can probably be filed under the longest of long shot categories, but the Buckeyes did make his top-ten recently and he was in town for a game last season, so it's at least worth mentioning. Henry is the country's No. 2 weak-side defensive end, and his crystal ball currently reads 100% in favor of Clemson. 

Five-star linebacker Teradja Mitchell was in Columbus last weekend and the Buckeyes have been surging for the Virginia Beach product. While it still looks like an Urban Meyer/Jimbo Fisher battle, Mitchell is planning a Clemson visit for April 22nd. With a decision expected to come before the summer, it's never a pleasant sight to see the Tigers making a push.

It's really easy and totally normal to have some ill feelings toward a successful coach at a national powerhouse. Numerous programs feel that way about Nick Saban and many Buckeye fans probably experienced similar feelings toward Urban Meyer circa 2006.

But there's just something about Dabo Swinney that makes me unable to dislike the guy. Maybe it's the way he talks or how he interacts with his players or how genuine he seems with the media. Maybe it's his tough upbringing or donating a third of his annual salary back to the program he runs. 

Whatever it it is – I fully admit to being a fan of college football's newest overlord.

The recruiting battles between Meyer and Swinney have happened before, but things look to be heating up following Clemson's national title run. They'll almost assuredly continue into the 2019 class as well.

Big fan of this Dabo fella, but let's not start poaching recruits from the Buckeye State. That's not something I'd be a fan of.