Losing Spring Game Recruiting Already Cost Clemson a Top Talent

The Clemson Tigers were riding high just a week ago. Then, Ohio State's Ryan Day stole a 4-star recruit from right under Dabo Swinney's nose.

Of course, the NCAA has now suspended the recruiting cycle, as most programs have cancelled or rescheduled their Spring Games due to COVID-19 fears. Just after a visit to Clemson in which Swinney hoped to close the deal on 4-star cornerback JK Johnson, the St. Louis native pulled a 180 and signed with fellow perennial Playoff contender Ohio State.

By no means is this a doomsday scenario for Swinney and the Tigers -- they still possess one of the most loaded rosters in all of football, and sit near the top of every recruiting metric. Nonetheless, it does speak to the sheer recruiting skill Ohio State possesses in Day, Brian Hartline and Kelly Coombs. Johnson identified Columbus as his future home without even taking a return visit to OSU, meaning the Buckeyes left enough of an impression in his previous stints to persuade him during a dead period. That's something that cannot be understated.

Clemson's consistently sensational recruiting classes are a feather in Swinney's cap, and this program refuses to lose any steam despite a disappointing defeat at the hands of LSU just two months ago in the national championship. However, sitting behind Ohio State -- a Big Ten team which hasn't won the CFP since Ezekiel Elliott was on campus -- ought to make Dabo's blood boil.

A response ought to be forthcoming.