HERO Sports is counting down the days until the kickoff of the 2018 college football season on Saturday, Aug. 25, by featuring the best player in the FBS at each jersey number, from 99-1. Each day, from May 18 through Aug. 24, we'll publish one article showcasing the best player whose jersey number matches the number of days remaining.
[divider]RANKINGS: Top 100 Teams for 2018
TRIVIA: Daily FBS Trivia Question
MORE: Best FCS Player for Each Jersey Number[divider]
No. 42 Christian Wilkins
Clemson – DT
Christian Wilkins is the fifth Clemson player in our countdown and the third from the best defensive line in college football. And if the quartet of Wilkins, Clelin Ferrell, Dexter Lawrence and Austin Bryant dominate early, we may have to begin asking this revered question: Is it the best defensive line in college football history?
Wilkins, a two-time All-American who's played inside and outside in his career, passed on the 2018 NFL Draft after registering 21.5 tackles for loss and eight sacks over the last two seasons. Surprisingly, he was given a second-round grade from the NFL.
"I was a little surprised by that, and I think he certainly was as well," Dabo Swinney said this spring. "If he had a sure first-round grade, I think he would have gone. But Christian feels like he's a top-15 pick and so do I."
Who knows where Wilkins would've been selected but we do know is the best No. 42 in college football and will anchor the best defensive line in college football.
