Clemson D-lineman Tyler Davis selected in NFL draft sixth round by Rams |
One of the most decorated defenders in Clemson history is finally off the board.
Tyler Davis was picked No. 196 overall within the sixth round of the NFL draft by the Los Angeles Rams on Saturday. Davis is the fifth Clemson defender taken and the sixth Tiger overall, joining Nate Wiggins (1st; Ravens), Ruke Orhorhoro (2nd; Falcons), Will Shipley (4th; Eagles), Xavier Thomas (5th; Cardinals) and Jeremiah Trotter Jr. (5th; Eagles). Davis' pick is slotted $4.2 million overall with a $182,700 signing bonus (Spotrac). Coaches reaction Head Coach Dabo Swinney: “I’m super proud of Tyler. I think he is a guy that from the moment he showed up at Clemson, he’s acted like a pro, prepared like one, trained like one. He is the consummate ‘team guy’ and eventually he will be a captain. He is a player I would put in the same mold as Grady Jarrett. He is probably a guy that got downgraded because he doesn’t have some of the measurables from a size standpoint, but when he gets on the field, he will quickly separate from the others. That’s just who he is. That’s who he’s always been. I just really feel like he’s going to have a great NFL career. I’m super excited for the opportunity he’s earned and I can’t wait to watch him continue to be great.” Associate Head Coach/Defensive Run Game Coordinator/Defensive Tackles Coach Nick Eason: “Tyler Davis is a great example of what takes to help any team win. He is accountable, disciplined, tough, competitive and smart. He has earned this moment because he outworked everyone. There are two kinds of people, those who do the work and those who take the credit. Tyler Davis does the work and earns the credit.” Clemson notes on Davis' selection – Davis became the 83rd NFL Draft selection in Dabo Swinney’s head coaching tenure and the 16th sixth-round pick of his tenure. – Davis became the 14th NFL Draft selection from Clemson in Rams history, joining B Jackie Calvert (1951), C Bill Thomas (1958), T Don Chuy (1963), LB Danny Triplett (1983), P Dale Hatcher (1985), CB Dexter McCleon (1997), RB Raymond Priester (1998), G Glenn Rountree (1998), CB Tye Hill (2006), C Dustin Fry (2007), DT Dorell Scott (2009), T Tremayne Anchrum (2020) and TE Davis Allen (2023). The Rams also have an additional NFL Supplemental Draft selection in franchise history: T Isaiah Battle (2015). – The Rams became the fifth franchise to draft at least 14 Clemson players all-time (Giants, 18; Steelers, 17; Cardinals, 16; Eagles, 14). – The Rams selected Clemson players in back-to-back drafts for the first time since 2006-07 when the franchise selected CB Tye Hill and C Dustin Fry in consecutive years. – Davis became the 24th member of Clemson’s front seven to be drafted since the 2015 NFL Draft. Entering the 2024 NFL Draft, Dabo Swinney ranked first among active coaches and second among all coaches — active or inactive — in front-seven draft picks produced in that span. – With the selections of Davis and Ruke Orhorhoro in this draft, all but one of Clemson’s primary starters at defensive tackle in Dabo Swinney’s 15 full seasons as head coach have been drafted or signed into the NFL (Jarvis Jenkins, Brandon Thompson, Rennie Moore, Grady Jarrett, Josh Watson, DeShawn Williams, Carlos Watkins, Dexter Lawrence, Christian Wilkins, Bryan Bresee, Orhorhoro and Davis) Clemson bio Second-team All-American in 2022 who became Clemson's first defensive player to be a four-time All-ACC selection, including three consecutive first-team honors from 2021-23 ... including offensive players and specialists, he became the fifth player in school history to be a four-time All-ACC honoree, joining RB Travis Etienne (five), RB C.J. Spiller (five), PK Nelson Welch (four) and OT Mitch Hyatt (four) ... passed Christian Wilkins, Dexter Lawrence and William Perry (three each) for the most career All-ACC selections by a defensive tackle in Clemson history, company befitting a player nicknamed "Baby Dex" by Dabo Swinney and "Mini Fridge" by former teammate K.J. Henry ... in 2023, broke Christian Wilkins' school record for starts by a defensive tackle and went on to set the Clemson record for career starts by any defensive player (52) ... finished his career tied with PK Chandler Catanzaro (52) for the fourth-most career starts in Clemson history among all positions ... made an immediate impact at Clemson, earning the starting role in his first career game as a true freshman in 2019 and becoming a key interior piece for Clemson's defense ever since ... credited with 167 tackles (29.5 for loss), 16.0 sacks, four pass breakups and three fumble recoveries in 2,018 snaps over 56 games (52 starts) since 2019. NFL draft prospect rankings PFF: 158 ESPN (Mel Kiper Jr.): Not in Top 150 ESPN (Matt Miller): 195 ESPN (Jordan Reid): 213 The Athletic: Not in Top 100 (6th-7th round projection) NFL.com grade/analysis Grade: 6.15 (“Good backup with the potential to develop into starter”) Analysis: “A fireplug nose tackle with a compact frame, Davis plays much stronger than his measurables might indicate. He lacks the pure mass teams covet along the interior but uses terrific strength and leverage to bow his neck and take on all comers. He's usually first off the snap and first in with his hands, but the size and length of an NFL interior blocker could be challenging for him as he makes the step up in class. The physical limitations will make him less attractive earlier in the draft, but his motor and consistency in pressuring blockers should push him into snaps as a 4-3 nose.” - Lance Zierlein
Congratulations, @tdbeast5390, for being drafted by the @RamsNFL! pic.twitter.com/bnF1AZuEsi
— Jim Clements (@ClemsonPrez) April 27, 2024
TD ➡️ LA@tdbeast5390 x @RamsNFL #ALLIN #NFLDraft pic.twitter.com/8kJxMHKqPx
— Clemson Football (@ClemsonFB) April 27, 2024
Tyler Davis: 91.1 run defense grade since 2022 (3rd among DTs) 💥 pic.twitter.com/VQgLekUdmQ
— PFF LA Rams (@PFF_Rams) April 27, 2024
Adding depth to the D-Line. 💪
— Los Angeles Rams (@RamsNFL) April 27, 2024
Welcome to #RamsHouse, @tdbeast5390! pic.twitter.com/AwpbDqp99R
You just got a winner @RamsNFL 🐅 pic.twitter.com/hQH7M9qAQq
— Clemson Football (@ClemsonFB) April 27, 2024
Ready to get to work 🐅@tdbeast5390 x @RamsNFL pic.twitter.com/vKaDW9sjZG
— Clemson Football (@ClemsonFB) April 27, 2024
“I’m a Ram now but I’m always a Clemson Tiger at heart.” - @tdbeast5390
— Clemson Football (@ClemsonFB) April 27, 2024
🧡 pic.twitter.com/UfObtuHPfF
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