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Two days after Clemson’s historic 44-16 championship win over Bama, Clemson’s first pair of underclassmen have announced their intentions to enter the NFL draft. Junior CB Trayvon Mullen and Jr LB Tre Lamar took to twitter Wednesday to announce their decisions and thank the Clemson family.
Thank you Clemson nation! #nextstep pic.twitter.com/GD8LNOALsK
— Tre Lamar (@tlamar57) January 9, 2019
Thank You, Clemson Family pic.twitter.com/ZdDXiRh9QF
— Trayvon Mullen Jr (@MullenIsland1) January 9, 2019
Both Lamar and Mullen were named second team All-ACC in 2018. Mullen’s performance in Monday night’s championship earned him the game’s defensive MVP award. Lamar finished as a finalist for the 2018 Butkus Award, which is presented to the nation’s top linebacker.
Various draft projections have shown each player having potential to be drafted in the first three rounds of April’s draft. With the departure of Lamar and graduation of JD Davis, Chad Smith looks to be the favorite to start in 2019, his final season. Clemson may have to look toward their younger players to step up at CB with Mullen leaving and Mark Fields graduating. Rising sophomores Kyler McMichael, Mario Goodrich, LeAnthony Williams, and incoming Andrew Booth will be guys to watch we the Tigers replace the production from Mullen and Fields.
UPDATE
Junior Defensive Tackle Dexter Lawrence also took to twitter Wednesday to announce his decision to enter the NFL draft.
Forever a Clemson Tiger ! #AllIn #2xChamps #ClemsonFamily #Pterodactyl pic.twitter.com/Iz91sIR3mD
— Dexter Lawrence II (@llawrence2139) January 9, 2019
Lawrence’s departure comes as little surprise to most as he is projected to be a high first round pick, with some projections even having him as the #1 overall pick. Lawrence’s departure means Clemson will more than likely be replacing all 4 starting “Power Rangers”, with the only question being Clellin Ferrel, who has not announced his decision at this time. Clemson will also be losing Lawrence’s back up senior Albert Huggins who stepped in for Big Dex during the playoffs.