Christian Wilkins

It is not often that a player is voted a Freshman All-American and a year later is asked to switch positions but that is precisely what the Clemson Tigers did with Wilkins, a testament not only to his unique talent but the remarkable depth which has led the team to playoff berths the past three consecutive seasons. The fact is, at 6-3, 300 pounds Wilkins looks the part of an everyday defensive tackle. His initial quickness, agility, instincts and unrelenting motor, however, are more common among defensive ends, where Wilkins earned All-American honors again in 2016 only to move back inside as a junior. Wilkins signed with Clemson as one of the more highly regarded prep prospects in the country and immediately lived up to his billing, recording an eye-popping 84 tackles, including 4.5 for loss and two sacks despite only starting one of 15 games as a true freshman. He was at his best with the spotlight shined brightest, including against Oklahoma in the Orange Bowl, recording 10 tackles in just 35 snaps on defense and catching a 31-yard pass on a fake punt. Not surprisingly, Wilkins earned Freshman All-American honors by many publications and was being bandied about as a future star defensive tackle. As such it was the more surprising when Wilkins was slid outside to defensive end in 2016. Just as before, however, Wilkins was up to the task. Though his tackle numbers dropped (56), Wilkins improved in the big play department, recording 13 tackles for loss and three sacks while leading the Tigers with 20 quarterback hurries. He also set a new school record for defensive ends with 10 passes broken up. Wilkins again earned All-American nods and was one of three finalists for the Bronko Nagurski Award as the nation's top defensive lineman. Despite being moved back inside and emerging as the focus of most opponents' blocking schemes in 2017, Wilkins recorded a solid 47 tackles over the regular season, including 8.5 tackles for loss and a career-high 4.5 sacks, leading the Tigers once again to an ACC crown and berth in the playoffs. BACKGROUND Wilkins signed with Clemson as one of the top 40 ranked prep prospects in the country by recruiting experts and almost universally regarded as the top talent out of the state of Connecticut. The footwork that makes Wilkins such a unique defensive tackle dates back to his days on the basketball court. Besides starring on the gridiron, Wilkins was a four-year letterman in basketball who averaged 19.9 points and 11.8 rebounds per game as a junior.

wilkins plays like an undrafted free agent trying to make the team, pursuing laterally and downfield with passion and playing on three different special teams units. he's a big man who can deliver the big hit, creating explosive collisions but is also a reliable wrap-up tackler. wilkins has not missed a game over his three seasons at clemson and comes with a sterling reputation off the field, including earning academic all-american accolades... a communications major with an upbeat personality, wilkins is popular with teammates and the clemson coaching staff. - rob rang 12/12/2017

WEAKNESSES

in a class full of freaky athletes at defensive tackle, wilkins just might be the most gifted, belying a compact frame that at first glance looks more run-stuffer than pass-deflecting penetrator.

A proven standout as a hand-in-the-dirt defensive lineman inside and out (and even as a stand-up edge rusher), Wilkins will generate early first round interest from clubs regardless of their scheme. He projects best as a classic three-technique defensive tackle in a 4-3 alignment and is on the short list of candidates to be the first defender selected in the 2018 NFL draft.

hall of famer warren sapp, buccaneers. at 6-2, 290 pounds sapp was not the biggest defensive tackles by modern standards but he parlayed his exceptional quickness and instincts into 96.5 career sacks and seven pro bowls. besides their similar frames and athleticism, sapp and wilkins each possess the larger-than-life personalities that will endear them to teammates and fans.

IN OUR VIEW

strengths

Wilkins has a short, stumpy frame well-suited to playing inside at defensive tackle, belying natural athleticism which makes him one of the freakier talents of the 2018 NFL draft. He possesses terrific initial quickness to split gaps and possesses the lateral agility and balance of a much smaller man, showing enough burst to cross the face of tackles when slid outside, record tackles while covering punts or converting fake punts on designed passes (2015) and runs (2016) for first downs - each of which he has accomplished during his Clemson career.

in an era in which nfl linemen seemingly get bigger every year, wilkins checks in slightly smaller than the league average, lacking the sand in his pants some teams would prefer inside. this is especially evident against double-teams, where wilkins is reliant upon splitting them to be effective, struggling to anchor and create a pile. he is very athletic for his frame but does not project as a true defensive end in a 4-3 alignment, as he starred in 2016 for the tigers. though his gaudy tackle statistics are impressive, too many of them occur yards downfield. - rob rang 12/12/2017

COMPARES TO

wilkins complements his light steps with uncommon coordination between his hands and feet, marrying the two to slip, slide and wiggle his way out of blocks and pursuing laterally and downfield with reckless abandon. wilkins possesses remarkable hand-eye coordination, snaking out an arm to trip up ball-carriers seemingly out of his grasp and timing his leap to tip passes at the line of scrimmage - including a school record (for defensive ends) 10 in 2016. his stout frame and strength help wilkins hold up at the point of attack, including the ability to split double-teams. though he was blessed with first round athleticism,

That athleticism was first obvious as a prep when he starred at the Suffield (Conn.) Academy as a four-year starter in basketball, averaging almost 20 point and 12 rebounds a game. In football, he also caught 12 passes, two for a touchdown.

No. 21 player and No. 4 defensive tackle in the nation and No. 1 player in Connecticut by Rivals.com

No. 24 player and No. 6 defensive tackle in the nation and No. 1 player in Connecticut by 247Sports.com (seventh-best signee entering the ACC)

No. 32 player and No. 6 defensive tackle in the nation and No. 1 player in Connecticut by ESPN. No. 39 player and No. 6 defensive tackle in the nation and No. 2 player in Connecticut by Scout.com

had 253 tackles, 69.5 tackles for loss, 28.5 sacks and six recovered fumbles in 35 career games

had 71 tackles, 22 tackles for loss, eight sacks and four caused fumbles as a senior

had 57 tackles and 20 tackles for loss as a junior. Made 12 catches for 209 yards and two touchdowns as a sophomore

four-year letterman in basketball who averaged 19.9 points and 11.8 rebounds per game as a junior

recruited by Dan Brooks and Brent Venables

coached by Andrew Gamere.

Majoring in communication

born Dec. 20, 1995.

2018

rushing
YPC	TD	YDS	CAR	LONG
1.0	2.0	3.0	3.0	1.0

fumbles
REC	LOST	FUM
2.0	0.0	1.0

defensive
TFL	QB HUR	TOT	TD	PD	SACKS	SOLO
13.0	6.0	47.0	0.0	2.0	5.0	24.0

2017

defensive
TFL	QB HUR	TOT	TD	PD	SACKS	SOLO
8.5	4.0	60.0	0.0	4.0	4.5	26.0

2016

rushing
YPC	TD	YDS	CAR	LONG
10.0	0.0	10.0	1.0	10.0

receiving
REC	YPR	TD	LONG	YDS
1.0	1.0	1.0	1.0	1.0

fumbles
REC	LOST	FUM
2.0	0.0	0.0

defensive
TFL	QB HUR	TOT	TD	PD	SACKS	SOLO
13.0	5.0	48.0	0.0	9.0	3.5	24.0

2015

receiving
REC	YPR	TD	LONG	YDS
1.0	31.0	0.0	31.0	31.0