Clemson coach Tommy Bowden already had the country's top defender in Da'Quan Bowers enrolled and working out. So there was probably little that could happen on signing day to better that, right?

Try these: Landing a tight end who was pledged to Georgia and slipping another Sunshine State tailback from the backyard of that state's power trio to finish with one of college football's top classes.

Terry Sanford High's Dwayne Allen, a 6-foot-4, 243-pounder from Fayetteville, N.C., had originally committed to Georgia. On Wednesday, the first day high school football prospects could officially sign with colleges, Allen decided to join the Tigers. About two hours later, Clemson got the binding letter of intent from coveted tailback Jamie Harper of Jacksonville, Fla.

Harper, who had offers from Florida, Florida State and Miami, followed the example of Clemson star C.J. Spiller and left his home state to play for Bowden's Tigers.

Clemson brought in 26 recruits in its latest class, rated No. 2 on ESPN/Scouts Inc.'s rankings.

"And I didn't even mention Da'Quan," Bowden said of the Bamberg-Ehrhardt (S.C.) defensive end. "Out of sight, out of mind."

Antoine McClain, a 6-6, 305-pound offensive lineman from Anniston, Ala., turned down his home state powers in Alabama and Auburn, along with national champ Louisiana State University to play for Bowden.

Clemson's longtime athletic spokesman Tim Bourret, asked to assess if this was the Tigers best class ever, says two previous football signing classes, in 1978 and 1989, eventually produced six NFL players. The 1978 class, the backbone of the Tigers' 1981 national championship club, included defensive back Terry Kinard and linebacker Jeff Davis, both who were later selected for the College Football Hall of Fame.

It will take some time to see if Bowden's newest group lives up to that highly decorated class.