Christian Wilkins
FILE - In this Oct. 31, 2020, file photo, Clemson head coach Dabo Swinney talks with players during the second half of an NCAA college football game against Boston College, Saturday, Oct. 31, 2020, in Clemson, S.C. Swinney, the coach of No. 3 Clemson, faces No. 5 Georgia in the season-opener in Charlotte, N.C. (Josh Morgan/Pool Photo via AP, File)
Pick Six: Picking the playoff and the national champion

By Ralph D. Russo Aug. 26, 2021 01:12 AM EDT

Cleveland Browns defensive end Myles Garrett (95) runs around Las Vegas Raiders tight end Darren Waller (83) during the first half of an NFL football game, Sunday, Nov. 1, 2020, in Cleveland. Garrett injured his knee in the first quarter in the Browns 16-6 loss to the Raiders. (AP Photo/David Richard)
The Latest: Air Force-Army football rescheduled to December

By The Associated Press Nov. 25, 2020 04:31 PM EST

FILE - This Feb.16, 2020, file photo shows South Florida's Shae Leverett, left, and Connecticut's Olivia Nelson-Ododa during the first half of an NCAA college basketball game in Tampa, Fla. UConn, one of the original members of the Big East Conference, is hoping a return to the league will help put the Huskies back among the elite programs in college basketball. The Huskies spent seven years in the American Athletic Conference, on a mostly downward trajectory since winning a fourth national title in 2014. (AP Photo/Mike Carlson, File)
The Latest: Iowa St women's hoops coach in quarantine

By The Associated Press Nov. 23, 2020 01:46 PM EST

FILE - In this Nov. 1, 2020, file photo, spectators wear face masks to protect against COVID-19 during the first half of an NFL football game between the Baltimore Ravens and the Pittsburgh Steelers, in Baltimore. A new set of rules are coming in just about every sport, almost all with enhanced health and safety in mind. If they work, games could get out of bubbles and return to arenas and stadiums with some fans in attendance sometime soon. Perhaps more importantly, they could also provide some common-sense solutions to virus issues in the real world.(AP Photo/Gail Burton, File)
The Latest: UAB-North Texas football game off for Saturday

By The Associated Press Nov. 12, 2020 07:58 PM EST

FILE - In this Jan. 13, 2020, file photo, LSU wide receiver Justin Jefferson is tackled by the Clemson defense during the first half of a NCAA College Football Playoff national championship game in New Orleans. The crunching hits, game-changing interceptions and dominating defense is the same for No. 1 Clemson. It's just the names that change from year to year. (AP Photo/Gerald Herbert, File)
No. 1 Clemson has new faces on defense and still dominating

By Pete Iacobelli Oct. 20, 2020 03:50 PM EDT

Clemson football player Tee Higgins runs the 40-yard dash during NFL Pro Day Thursday, March 12, 2020, in Clemson, S.C. (AP Photo/Richard Shiro)
Clemson's Simmons shows off for NFL personnel at pro day

By Pete Iacobelli Mar. 12, 2020 05:07 PM EDT

Clemson running back Travis Etienne scores past LSU defensive lineman Rashard Lawrence during the second half of a NCAA College Football Playoff national championship game Monday, Jan. 13, 2020, in New Orleans. (AP Photo/David J. Phillip)
Two-time ACC player of the year Etienne returning to Clemson

Jan. 17, 2020 03:51 PM EST

Clemson coach Dabo Swinney plays the cymbal on the drum of a member of the 3rd Line Brass Band as he arrives with the team for the NCAA College Football Playoff title game in New Orleans, Friday, Jan. 10, 2020. Clemson is scheduled to play LSU on Monday. (AP Photo/Gerald Herbert)
Analysis: Clemson will win with talent to slow LSU, Burrow

By Pete Iacobelli Jan. 11, 2020 02:21 PM EST

Oregon quarterback Justin Herbert (10) throws a pass away from Oregon State inside linebacker Avery Roberts (34) and defensive lineman Simon Sandberg (45) during the second half of an NCAA college football game in Eugene, Ore., Saturday, Nov. 30, 2019. (AP Photo/Amanda Loman)
Oregon QB Herbert wins Campbell Trophy, top scholar-athlete

Dec. 10, 2019 09:45 PM EST

North Carolina coach Mack Brown is consoled by Cam'Ron Kelly as they leave the field following a 38-31 loss to Virginia during an NCAA college football game Saturday, Nov. 2, 2019, in Chapel Hill, N.C. (Robert Willett/The News & Observer via AP)
Under pressure: Defenses thriving in sack-happy ACC

By Will Graves Nov. 13, 2019 01:27 PM EST

Clemson's Trevor Lawrence (16) looks to throw the ball during the first half of an NCAA college football game against North Carolina State in Raleigh, N.C., Saturday, Nov. 9, 2019. (AP Photo/Karl B DeBlaker)
All-America Watch: Clemson QB Lawrence back in top form

By Pete Iacobelli Nov. 12, 2019 03:42 PM EST

Clemson head coach Dabo Swinney calls out commands during the first half of an NCAA college football game against Boston College, Saturday, Oct. 26, 2019, in Clemson, S.C. (AP Photo/Richard Shiro)
Clemson's re-tooled defense playing like 'one of the best'

By Pete Iacobelli Oct. 29, 2019 12:23 PM EDT

Dallas Cowboys running back Tony Pollard (20) runs the ball as Miami Dolphins middle linebacker Raekwon McMillan (52) and Christian Wilkins (94) give chase in the second half of an NFL football game in Arlington, Texas, Sunday, Sept. 22, 2019. (AP Photo/Ron Jenkins)
Miami Dolphins at Dallas Cowboys 9/22/2019

Oct. 08, 2019 02:56 PM EDT

North Carolina's Sam Howell (7) gets stopped on a two-point conversion by Clemson's James Skalski (47) and Xavier Thomas (3) in the fourth quarter of an NCAA college football game in Chapel Hill, N.C., Saturday, Sept. 28, 2019. (AP Photo/Chris Seward)
All-America Watch: No. 2 Clemson reloads on D-line

By Pete Iacobelli Oct. 08, 2019 02:45 PM EDT

FILE - In this Saturday, Sept. 7, 2019 file photo, Clemson head coach Dabo Swinney, center, and defensive coach Brent Venables, left, watch the action during the second half of an NCAA college football game against Texas A&M in Clemson, S.C. Tyler Davis didn’t plan on starting this soon for Clemson, given the depth the Tigers had stockpiled at defensive tackle the past few seasons. Clemson coach Dabo Swinney and defensive coordinator Brent Venables had planned for the talent drain and had brought along several linemen like Williams and junior Xavier Kelly to take over. They didn’t count on Davis forcing his way into the starting lineup. (AP Photo/Richard Shiro, File)
Freshman DT Davis filling void left by Clemson All-American

By Pete Iacobelli Sep. 10, 2019 04:52 PM EDT

Clemson's A.J. Terrell (8) blocks a pass intended for Texas A&M's Jhamon Ausbon during the second half of an NCAA college football game Saturday, Sept. 7, 2019, in Clemson, S.C. (AP Photo/Richard Shiro)
'As good as it gets': Venables reloads Clemson defense

By Ralph D. Russo Sep. 08, 2019 04:35 PM EDT

Army defenders stop Michigan running back Zach Charbonnet (24) in the second half of an NCAA college football game in Ann Arbor, Mich., Saturday, Sept. 7, 2019. Michigan won 24-21 in overtime. (AP Photo/Paul Sancya)
AP Top 25 Takeaways: LSU's masterpiece, Michigan's mess

By Ralph D. Russo Sep. 08, 2019 01:01 AM EDT

FILE - In this April 26, 2019, file photo, Georgia Tech head coach Geoff Collins, right, reacts as quarterback Lucas Johnson (7) holds him during the team's NCAA college spring football game in Atlanta. Collins is only a few days away from the first big test for his new team, a visit to No. 1 Clemson, the defending national champion Thursday, Aug. 29, 2019. (Hyosub Shin/Atlanta Journal-Constitution via AP, File)
No. 1 Clemson opens defense of title against Georgia Tech

By The Associated Press Aug. 28, 2019 02:25 PM EDT

FILE - In this April 26, 2019, file photo, Georgia Tech head coach Geoff Collins, right, reacts as quarterback Lucas Johnson (7) holds him during the team's NCAA college spring football game in Atlanta. Collins is only a few days away from the first big test for his new team, a visit to No. 1 Clemson, the defending national champion Thursday, Aug. 29, 2019. (Hyosub Shin/Atlanta Journal-Constitution via AP, File)
Clemson's Lawrence confident, set for opener vs Georgia Tech

By Pete Iacobelli Aug. 28, 2019 11:19 AM EDT

FILE - In this Jan. 7, 2019, file photo, Clemson's Trevor Lawrence throws during the first half the NCAA college football playoff championship game against Alabama, in Santa Clara, Calif. Sure, Clemson lost all four of its “Power Rangers” defensive line and seven starters on defense from its title team. But the Tigers’ offense, led by Heisman Trophy candidates quarterback Trevor Lawrence and tailback Travis Etienne, looks ready to operate at an even higher level than a year ago when it averaged 527 yards and 44.3 points a game. (AP Photo/Chris Carlson, File)
Clemson poised to make a run at back-to-back national titles

By Pete Iacobelli Aug. 13, 2019 11:37 AM EDT