clock menu more-arrow no yes mobile

Filed under:

Dabo Swinney and the NFL Draft

Analyzing how Clemson has fared with NFL picks during Dabo’s tenure.

NFL: NFL Draft Howard Smith-USA TODAY Sports

The 2023 NFL Draft was held last weekend, offering many collegiate athletes the life-changing opportunity to be selected by an NFL team. For many players, this day represents the culmination of a lifelong dedication to training, practicing, and working hard.

The NFL is often said to be an entirely different game by players, and collegiate success does not always translate to a robust professional career. Nevertheless, college fans are routinely surprised by which seemingly proven play makers fall to later rounds and which players who appeared wildly inconsistent at the NCAA level are taken early due to some combination of measurables, potential, and raw skill. Florida’s Anthony Richardson is a great example from this year, being taken fourth overall despite an average collegiate career that featured only 13 starts.

In addition to the annual drama of who may or may not be taken with the first 1-5 picks, for most casual fans, the NFL draft is a fun chance to see where their favorite college stars will be playing at the professional level. Clemson fans have seen a wide variety of talented players come through Tigertown, none more than during the last 15 years thanks to Dabo Swinney’s continued success in both coaching and recruiting. In fact, Dabo ranks second behind only Nick Saban for most players drafted among active head coaches, with 77 picks as of this year’s draft.

I wanted to take a look at every player who has been drafted to the NFL during Dabo’s time at Clemson as head coach for several reasons, but primarily because it’s the offseason, and what else are we supposed to talk about if not obscure football data? I’m also curious to see which position units have had the most taken over his 14 full seasons of coaching (I’m assuming DL and WR).

I’ll start with the 2009 NFL draft and work forward, providing a brief glance at which players were drafted, how long they played, and any major career achievements they collected. I’ll keep my opinion on whether or not they were a bust in the NFL out of this, as I’m mostly just trying to get a big picture of all Dabo’s NFL draft picks. Additionally, it’s an incredible accomplishment to be drafted at all, regardless of how long a player remains on an active roster.

I’ve done my best to include at least one highlight clip from each player where possible, but for those who didn’t produce much in the NFL, I’ve tried to at least share a memorable Clemson play for some good old nostalgic value.

Draft Overview

2009 NFL Draft

Round Overall Name Position Team Career Highlight
Round Overall Name Position Team Career Highlight
4 103 Darell Scott DT St. Louis Rams 4 years
5 165 Chris Clemons S Miami Dolphins 7 years
5 166 Michael Hamlin S Dallas Cowboys 3 years
6 195 James Davis RB Clevaland Browns 3 years (Clemson) ACC Highlight Reel

2010 NFL Draft

Round Overall Name Position Team Career Accolades Highlight
Round Overall Name Position Team Career Accolades Highlight
1 9 CJ Spiller RB Buffalo Bills 8 years Pro Bowl (2012) 95-yard kickoff return TD
4 108 Jacoby Ford WR Oakland Raiders 6 years 47-yard reception to set up game-winning field goal
5 134 Ricky Sapp DE Philadelphia Eagles 6 years
5 164 Crezdon Butler CB Pittsburgh Steelers 7 years Defended pass prevents 2-point conversion to help break 24-year losing streak in Wisconsin
7 240 Kavell Conner LB Indianapolis Colts 7 years (Clemson) Goal-line tackle against Wake Forest

2011 NFL Draft

Round Overall Name Position Team Career Accolades Highlight
Round Overall Name Position Team Career Accolades Highlight
2 41 Jarvis Jenkins DE Washington Redskins 8 years (Clemson) Blocked field goal against NC State
2 50 Marcus Gilchrist S San Diego Chargers 10 years Interception off Joe Flacco pass
2 51 Da'Quan Bowers DE Tampa Bay Bucaneers 5 years (Clemson) Sack against Maryland
4 122 Chris Hairston OT Buffalo Bills 7 years
4 130 Jamie Harper RB Tennessee Titans 2 years Front flip after touchdown run
6 173 Byron Maxwell CB Seattle Seahawks 8 years Super Bowl Champion (XLVIII) (Clemson) Body slam against USF

2012 NFL Draft

Round Overall Name Position Team Career Accolades Highlight
Round Overall Name Position Team Career Accolades Highlight
2 38 Andre Branch DE Jacksonville Jaguars 8 years Game-ending sack on Marcus Mariota
3 64 Dwayne Allen TE Indianapolis Colts 8 years Super Bowl Champion (LIII) Third touchdown in first half against Jets
3 93 Brandon Thompson DT Cincinnati Bengals 6 years (Clemson) Batted pass against South Carolina
4 115 Coty Sensabaugh CB Tennessee Titans 8 years Interception off Jameis Winston's first NFL pass

2013 NFL Draft

Round Overall Name Position Team Career Accolades Highlight
Round Overall Name Position Team Career Accolades Highlight
1 27 DeAndre Hopkins WR Houston Texans 2013-present Pro Bowl (2015, 2017-2020) Game-winning Hail Mary touchdown catch
4 127 Malliciah Goodman DE San Diego Chargers 5 years (Clemson) Sack forces fumble against Boston College
5 143 Jonathan Meeks S Buffalo Bills 4 years (Clemson) Pick-six against Virginia Tech
6 187 Andre Ellington RB Arizona Cardinals 7 years Go-ahead touchdown run against Seattle

I have seen that gif of Drew Stanton (#5 backup QB) celebrating on the sideline so many times and only just now realized it was from Andre Ellington’s big touchdown run. Hilarious moment.

2014 NFL Draft

Round Overall Name Position Team Career Accolades Highlight
Round Overall Name Position Team Career Accolades Highlight
1 4 Sammy Watkins WR Buffalo Bills 2014-present Super Bowl Champion (LIV) NFL Films breakdown of Watkins' Super Bowl catch against Richard Sherman
3 100 Brandon Thomas OG San Francisco 49ers 6 years Interception off Joe Flacco pass
4 102 Bashaud Breeland CB Washington Redskins 5 years Super Bowl Champion (LIV) 100-yard fumble return for touchdown
4 118 Martavis Bryant WR Pittsburgh Steelers 5 years Acrobatic touchdown catch against Bengals
6 213 Tajh Boyd QB New York Jets 2 years ACC Highlight Reel

2015 NFL Draft

Round Overall Name Position Team Career Accolades Highlight
Round Overall Name Position Team Career Accolades Highlight
1 8 Vic Beasley DE Atlanta Falcons 6 years Pro Bowl (2016) Sack on Jared Goff while being held
1 31 Stephone Anthony LB New Orleans Saints 6 years Blocked PAT returned for 2-pt conversion against Panthers
5 137 Grady Jarrett DT Atlanta Falcons 2015-present Pro Bowl (2019, 2020) NFL Films "You Shall Not Pass"
5 165 Bradley Pinion P San Francisco 49ers 2015-present Super Bowl Champion (LV) Punt lands at the 2-yard-line
6 188 Tony Steward LB Buffalo Bills 2 years

Not a Falcons fan, but I will forever be sad that Beasley and Jarrett (who had three sacks!) didn’t win that Super Bowl...

2016 NFL Draft

Round Overall Name Position Team Career Highlight
Round Overall Name Position Team Career Highlight
1 19 Shaq Lawson DE Buffalo Bills 2016-present Mic'd Up for AFC East Championship
2 33 Kevin Dodd DE Tennessee Titans 2 years First NFL sack on Matthew Stafford
2 54 Mackensie Alexander CB Minnesota Vikings 2016-present Interception off Ben Roethlisberger
2 57 TJ Green S Indianapolis Colts 7 years (Clemson) Interception against Oklahoma
4 109 BJ Goodson LB New York Giants 6 years Sack on Josh Dobbs
5 166 DJ Reader DT Houston Texans 2016-present Spotlight on Reader's injury comeback
7 241 Charone Peake WR New York Jets 5 years Fumble recovery for 40-yard touchdown
7 244 Jayron Kearse S Minnesota Vikings 2016-present Acrobatic interception against Saints
7 247 Zac Brooks RB Seattle Seahawks 2 years (Clemson) Wheel-route touchdown against UGA

Anytime Charone Peake’s name is brought up I instantly think of this block against Miami:

2017 NFL Draft

Round Overall Name Position Team Career Accolades Highlight
Round Overall Name Position Team Career Accolades Highlight
1 7 Mike Williams WR Los Angeles Chargers 2017-present One-handed grab against Rams
1 12 Deshaun Watson QB Houston Texans 2017-present Pro Bowl (2018-2020) Multiple sacks evaded against Bills in overtime
3 97 Cordrea Tankersley CB Miami Dolphins 5 years (Clemson) Interception against Virginia Tech in ACC Championship
4 140 Wayne Gallman RB New York Giants 2017-present 2020 highlights with New York Giants
4 142 Carlos Watkins DT Houston Texans 2017-present Pick-six against Saints
5 150 Jordan Leggett TE New York Jets 5 years Touchdown reception against Jaguars

2018 NFL Draft

Round Overall Name Position Team Career Accolades Highlight
Round Overall Name Position Team Career Accolades Highlight
3 100 Dorian O'Daniel LB Kansas City Chiefs 4 years Super Bowl Champion (LIV) Rookie year recap with Chiefs
6 185 Deon Cain WR Indianapolis Colts 5 years (Clemson) 54-yard touchdown reception against Louisville
6 187 Ray-Ray McCloud WR Buffalo Bills 2018-present 71-yard touchdown run against Washington

2019 NFL Draft

Round Overall Name Position Team Career Accolades Highlight
Round Overall Name Position Team Career Accolades Highlight
1 4 Clelin Ferrell DE Oakland Raiders 2019-present Sack on Sam Darnold forces fumble
1 13 Christian Wilkins DT Miami Dolphins 2019-present Touchdown reception at the goal line
1 17 Dexter Lawrence DT New York Giants 2019-present Pro Bowl (2022) Mic'd Up against Titans
2 40 Trayvon Mullen CB Oakland Raiders 2019-present Red-zone interception against Patrick Mahomes
4 117 Austin Byrant DE Detroit Lions 2019-present Blocked punt against Ravens
5 149 Hunter Renfrow WR Oakland Raiders 2019-present Pro Bowl (2021) Big tackle prevents fake punt attempt

That legendary 2018 National Title team had three players drafted from the defensive line in the first round, four including Austin Bryant later in the fourth round.

2020 NFL Draft

Round Overall Name Position Team Career Accolades Highlight
Round Overall Name Position Team Career Accolades Highlight
1 8 Isaiah Simmons LB Arizona Cardinals 2020-present Pick-six off Drew Brees' throw
1 16 AJ Terrell CB Atlanta Falcons 2020-present 2021 highlight reel
2 33 Tee Higgins WR Cincinnati Bengals 2020-present Contested catch in double coverage
3 100 Tanner Muse S Las Vegas Raiders 2020-present (Clemson) Scoop and score against Syracuse
4 109 John Simpson OG Las Vegas Raiders 2020-present (Clemson) Rushing touchdown against NC State
4 127 K'Von Wallace S Philadelphia Eagles 2020-present (Clemson) Pick-six against Charlotte
7 250 Tremayne Anchrum OG Los Angeles Rams 2020-present Super Bowl Champion (LVI) Surprise nomination for Walter Payton Man of the Year award

2021 NFL Draft

Round Overall Name Position Team Career Accolades Highlight
Round Overall Name Position Team Career Accolades Highlight
1 1 Trevor Lawrence QB Jacksonville Jaguars 2021-present 27-point comeback against Chargers in playoffs
1 25 Travis Etienne RB Jacksonville Jaguars 2021-present 2022 highlight reel
2 46 Jackson Carman OT Cincinnati Bengals 2021-present Block pushes Tyus Bowser into sideline
3 85 Amari Rodgers WR Green Bay Packers 2021-present First NFL touchdown reception against Cowboys
5 181 Cornell Powell WR Kansas City Chiefs 2021-present Super Bowl Champion (LVII) (Clemson) Long touchdown reception against Notre Dame

How cool is it that Trevor and Travis get to continue playing together (for now) in the NFL? An awesome duo who I hope do big things for the Jags.

NFL: AFC Divisional Round-Jacksonville Jaguars at Kansas City Chiefs
Trevor and Travis in the NFL.
Denny Medley-USA TODAY Sports

2022 NFL Draft

Round Overall Name Position Team Career Highlight
Round Overall Name Position Team Career Highlight
2 42 Andrew Booth CB Minnesota Vikings 2022-present (Clemson) One-handed interception against Virginia
7 231 Baylon Spector LB Buffalo Bills 2022-present (Clemson) Interception against Georgia

2023 NFL Draft

Round Overall Name Position Team Highlight
Round Overall Name Position Team Highlight
1 28 Myles Murphy DE Cincinnati Bengals 2022 highlight reel
1 29 Bryan Bresee DT New Orleans Saints ESPN feature on Bryan and Ella Bresee
3 86 Trenton Simpson LB Baltimore Ravens 2022 highlight reel
5 137 KJ Henry DE Washington Commanders 2022 highlight reel
5 156 Jordan McFadden OT Los Angeles Chargers College highlights
5 175 Davis Allen TE Los Angeles Rams 2022 highlight reel

Quick Notes

Now that we’ve seen the raw data, here are a few notes on these last 14 NFL drafts, starting with the position unit totals:

  • 12 WR
  • 12 DE
  • 9 CB
  • 8 S
  • 8 LB
  • 8 DT
  • 7 RB
  • 7 OL
  • 3 TE
  • 3 QB
  • 1 P

Wide receiver and defensive end lead all position groups with 12 each; the overall number of defensive players drafted is 45, while only 32 offensive players have been drafted (Bradley Pinion being the only special teams player drafted during the Dabo era).

The Buffalo Bills have been the biggest fan of Clemson athletes over the last 14 years, drafting 9 total players from the Tigers since 2009. The Raiders are close behind with 7 drafted (5 of those coming in 2019 and 2020), while the Bengals and Chargers have both taken 5 Clemson players in that same time span.

Clemson has averaged 5 to 6 players (5.57) drafted during Dabo’s time as head coach, with the most in a single year coming from the 2016 draft, in which 9 players were taken from that formidable 2015 team. The fewest players picked in one year was 2 in 2022, the least since 2008 when Dabo became interim head coach.

Dabo Swinney has had 17 first-round NFL draft picks, the second-most among all active head coaches (guess who is first).

Who are some of your favorite players that have come through Clemson during Dabo’s time? My personal favorite has to be Hunter Renfrow, and I’m so glad he’s continuing to ball out in the NFL now.