Clemson football: Three biggest NFL busts in program history

Clemson football has produced its fair share of NFL talent over the years.

Whether you are talking about former Clemson football greats such as William Perry, Brian Dawkins, or Deshaun Watson, Tigers have won everything from Super Bowls to being named to the Hall of Fame.

But what about those that never live up to the expectations that come after their illustrious college careers?

We typically call those players “busts” and Clemson football has plenty of those too – as does every other program in the country.

Over the history of Clemson football, the Tigers have produced 35 first-round NFL draft picks, with 13 of them coming since head coach Dabo Swinney was hired on a permanent basis.

As we talk about the three biggest busts in Clemson football history, it is important to remember a few things. We are strictly talking about their professional career. We are in no way taking anything away from their spectacular college careers.

Another thing to keep in mind is that this is strictly from a football standpoint. This is not a personal attack on who they are nor will this take into account the extraordinary things that Clemson football alumni continue to do in their communities.

There are always a lot of factors as to why a player turns into a bust at the next level.

Wrong coaching staff, wrong system, bad timing, injuries, or losing a love of the game can all be factors as to why a guy with so much potential coming out of Clemson doesn’t live up to his draft status on the NFL level.