As Clemson concludes its 2017 spring practice on Saturday, it also takes a huge step forward for 2018.

The Tigers received a verbal commitment Saturday from five-star defensive end Xavier Thomas out of IMG Academy, the No. 2 prospect in the nation per 247Sports Composite Rankings, ahead of the teamâs Orange and White game.

Though Thomasâ commitment is only a verbal one and therefore non-binding, it is yet another monumental win for coach Dabo Swinney coming off the programâs first national championship in more than 30 years. Should Thomas sign with the Tigers, it would seemingly continue the âD-line Uâ reputation the program has built. Carlos Watkins, Dexter Lawrence and Christian Wilkins were major factors in the trenches last season. Shaq Lawson, Kevin Dodd and Vic Beasley are some of the former players to have made a significant impact at Clemson before moving on to the NFL.

Thomasâ commitment also gives Clemson verbals from the top two players in the 2018 class, the other being quarterback Trevor Lawrence, the No. 1 overall prospect. As it so happens, the Tigers are in the middle of an open quarterback competition to replace Deshaun Watson. Zerrick Cooper, Kelly Bryant and early enrollee Hunter Johnson are all competing for the job with Cooper and Johnson being one-time blue-chip recruits, per 247Sports. Lawrence, should he sign, would only add to the impressiveness of the quarterback depth chart.

Clemson won a national title (and played for another) by recruiting classes that ranked in the top 10 and top 15 nationally. The general rule of thumb is that programs need to recruit at a top-10, if not a top-five, level to compete for a title. The Tigers are most certainly getting a post-championship bump on the trail. Swinney and Co. are proving they can compete against anyone -- and win -- on the field and in living rooms.