The Clemson Tigers are the defending national champions, and it appears as if Dabo Swinney has yet another title contender this year.
Swinney has turned Clemson into a national power, and ESPN college football analyst Kirk Herbstreit said it's because Swinney recruits high-character players to anchor his program.
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"Their success goes to how they recruit," Herbstreit said. "They're very selective in the type of individuals they're willing to bring into their program. They don't just go after any 5-star. They look for character, they look for personality. And if a guy doesn't fit their culture, they don't recruit him. ... And that's not really normal in college football today."
That's high praise from Herbstreit, and it speaks volumes about the kind of program Swinney has built over the last nine years. It is also a pretty significant shot at the current powerhouse programs that are dealing with issues from some of their top players getting into trouble. That hasn't been a problem so far for Clemson.
Swinney is 92-28 since taking over at Clemson in 2008, and his Tigers have played in two straight national title games, including last year's win over Alabama. Clemson looks to be one of the best teams in the country again, and Swinney has built a program capable of sustaining success for the long haul.
