Clemson Football: Clelin Ferrell a potential top 15 pick in 2018?
For those in and around the Clemson football program, it was clear how talented defensive end, Clelin Ferrell is. It appears that the rest of the country is beginning to take notice.
Bleacher Report’s Matt Miller recently released his updated 2018 NFL Mock Draft, in which he has Clemson’s Clelin Ferrell going 13th overall to the Washington Redskins. While this may seem high for a redshirt sophomore, Ferrell is that sort of talent. Miller also had Christian Wilkins going 3rd overall to the Chicago Bears; and Deon Cain going 18th overall to the Baltimore Ravens.
Earlier in the offseason, I gave 3 reasons why Ferrell will be the best defensive end in the ACC in 2017. At 6-foot-5, 265 pounds Ferrell merely scratched the surface of his potential a season ago. The Virginia native was able to log 50 total tackles, 12.5 tackles for loss, six sacks and a whopping 24 quarterback pressures. Those numbers are impressive for anybody, let alone a first time starter.
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Coming into his redshirt sophomore season I expect Ferrell to transform into a dominant force. With the talent that Clemson has elsewhere on the defensive line, it will be nearly impossible to block Ferrell. The Tigers have a pair of elite defensive tackles in Christian Wilkins and Dexter Lawrence who will occupy double teams left and right. That leaves Ferrell and fellow defensive end, Austin Bryant in one-on-one matchups.
It’s important to consider if Ferrell would even be interested in leaving for the NFL following the 2017 season. Here’s my logic. He has already won both an ACC Championship and a National Championship. Aside from personal statistics, what else is left for him to accomplish?
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If he is a near lock to land in the first round, it would be too risky to stay in school. Injuries can happen anywhere on the field, but, there is an especially high risk of injury in the trenches.