Clemson draft preview

by CU Athletic Communications - Tue Apr 28 19:54:54 GMT-05:00 2015

Clemson, S.C.— Clemson defensive end Vic BeasleyVic Beasley
Defensive End (2010 - 2014)
#3 6-2, 236
Adairsville, GA
View Full Profile will be one of 28 prospects at the Auditorium Theatre in Chicago on Thursday evening as the National Football League begins its annual draft of college players at 8:00 p.m. Beasley is one of many former Tiger football players who could be selected over the three days of the draft.

Eighteen of 22 mock drafts by various members of the media list Beasley as a top 10 pick, including seven who believe the Clemson graduate will be a top five selection.

If Beasley is taken within the first three selections he will be the highest draft pick in Clemson history. Banks McFadden (1939, Brooklyn), Gaines AdamsGaines Adams
Defensive End
# 6-5, 260
Greenwood, SC
View Full Profile (2007, Tampa Bay) and Sammy WatkinsSammy Watkins
Wide Receiver (2011 - 2013)
#2 6-1, 205
Fort Myers, FL
View Full Profile (2014, Buffalo) were all the number-four selection of the NFL draft after their respective final seasons at Clemson.

Beasley set a Clemson record for career sacks with 33, including 12 last year, and had 52.5 career tackles for loss, including 21.5 last year. He was a consensus All-American in 2013 and 2014 and was named the ACC Defensive Player of the Year in 2014.

Clemson has had a first-round draft choice each of the last two years. DeAndre HopkinsDeAndre Hopkins
Wide Receiver (2010 - 2012)
#6 6-2, 205
Central, SC
View Full Profile was the No. 27 selection of the 2013 draft by the Houston Texans and Watkins was the No. 4 pick by Buffalo last year.

If Beasley is taken in the first round it would mark just the second time Clemson has had a first-round draft pick three years in a row. The only other time it happened was in the 1997-99 era when Trevor PryceTrevor Pryce
Defensive Tackle (1996)
# 6-5, 290
Brooklyn, NY
View Full Profile (Denver, 1997), Anthony Simmons (Seattle, 1998) and Antwan Edwards (Green Bay, 1999) were first-round selections in three consecutive seasons.

Ten schools have had at least one first-round pick each of the last two years and thus have the opportunity to have a first-round pick three years in a row. Those schools are Clemson, Texas A&M, LSU, North Carolina, Alabama, Florida State, Notre Dame, Florida, UCLA and Tennessee.

Seven Clemson players attended the NFL Combine last February, including six defensive players, more than any other school in the nation. Those six seniors were a big reason Clemson led the nation in total defense for the first time since 1990.

In addition to Beasley, first-team All-ACC linebacker Stephone AnthonyStephone Anthony
Linebacker (2011 - 2014)
#42 6-3, 245
Polkton, NC
View Full Profile, first-team All-ACC defensive tackle Grady JarrettGrady Jarrett
Defensive Tackle (2011 - 2014)
#50 6-0, 290
Conyers, GA
View Full Profile and first-team cornerback Garry PetersGarry Peters
Cornerback (2010 - 2014)
#26 6-0, 194
Conyers, GA
View Full Profile went to Indianapolis for the combine and are likely to be drafted this weekend. Many mock drafts have Anthony as a second-round pick and Jarrett as a third-round selection.

Defensive ends Tavaris BarnesTavaris Barnes
Defensive End (2010 - 2014)
#9 6-3, 275
Jacksonville, FL
View Full Profile and Corey CrawfordCorey Crawford
Defensive End (2011 - 2014)
#93 6-5, 275
Columbus, GA
View Full Profile were at the combine and are likely to be selected at some point over the three-day process. Punter Bradley PinionBradley Pinion
Punter (2012 - 2014)
#92 6-6, 230
Concord, NC
View Full Profile also went to the combine.

Other Clemson seniors who could be drafted include linebacker Tony StewardTony Steward
Linebacker (2011 - 2014)
#7 6-, 235
Hastings, FL
View Full Profile, and defensive tackles DeShawn WilliamsDeShawn Williams
Defensive Tackle (2011 - 2014)
#99 6-1, 295
Central, SC
View Full Profile and Josh WatsonJosh Watson
Defensive Tackle (2010 - 2014)
#91 6-4, 290
Wilmington, DE
View Full Profile. Robert SmithRobert Smith
Safety (2011 - 2014)
#27 5-11, 215
St. George, SC
View Full Profile, the leading tackler in Clemson’s secondary last year, is a senior safety who could be chosen as well. Offensive players Adam HumphriesAdam Humphries
Wide Receiver (2011 - 2014)
#13 5-11, 193
Spartanburg, SC
View Full Profile, David BeasleyDavid Beasley
Offensive Guard (2010 - 2014)
#68 6-4, 330
Columbus, GA
View Full Profile, Kalon DavisKalon Davis
Offensive Guard (2010 - 2014)
#67 6-5, 340
Chester, SC
View Full Profile and Cole StoudtCole Stoudt
Quarterback (2011 - 2014)
#18 6-4, 225
Dublin, OH
View Full Profile are candidates for the draft as well.

Other Clemson draft Notes

Clemson has had at least four selections in the NFL Draft each of the last six years, the only ACC school that can make that claim. Clemson’s six-year run of at least four players drafted is the longest by an ACC school since Florida State had at least four selected 10 consecutive years from 1992-2001.

Since Dabo Swinney became Clemson’s head coach the Tigers have had 28 players selected, tied for second among league schools. Florida State has the most with 29, followed by Clemson and North Carolina with 28, Miami (FL) with 24, Virginia Tech with 17, Pittsburgh and N.C. State with 14, Syracuse and Georgia Tech with 13.

•Beasley will be the fifth Clemson player to attend the draft as a guest of the NFL. The others are Chester McGlockton (1992), Gaines Adams (2007), C.J. SpillerC.J. Spiller
Pro Running Back
#28 5-11, 195
Lake Butler, FL
View Full Profile (2010) and Sammy Watkins (2014)

•Clemson has had 24 NFL first-round draft picks in its history. (NFL records do not consider Harvey White a first-round draft choice in 1960 as it was an AFL selection). Each of the last three Clemson players taken in the first round have been offensive players. The last defensive player taken in the first round was the late Gaines Adams, the No. 4 selection of the draft by the Tampa Bay Bucs.

•Thirty former Clemson players were on NFL rosters last year and 26 got into an NFL game, more than any other season. Four were on practice squads or injured reserve.

Vic Beasley in NFL Mock Drafts

(As of April 28, 2015)

•#3 to Jacksonville Jaguars

Sports Illustrated, Bucky Brooks of NFL.com, Outlads.com

•#5 Washington Redskins

Daniel Jeremiah of NFL.com, Walter Football, Dave Brugler of CBSports.com, Pete Prisco of CBSports.com

•#6 to New York Jets

Charley Casserly of NFL.com, NFL Draft Geek.com, Comcast Sportsnet. Will Brinson of CBSports.com

•#8 to Atlanta Falcons

Charles Davis of NFL.com, Lance Zierkin of NFL.com. NFL Nation of ESPN.com, Mel Kiper of ESPN, Beacher Report.com, Mynfldraft.com, #Peter King, of Sports Illustrated

#Has Beasley drafted by Washington in a trade

•#13 New Orleans Saints

Brian Baldinger of NFL.com, Todd McShay of ESPN, Rob Rang of CBS Sports, Josh Norris of NBC Sports.