Clemson Tigers News: Murphy’s draft eval, quick basketball thoughts

As everyone knows by now, Clemson football defensive end Myles Murphy has opted out of the Orange Bowl and will prepare for the NFL Draft.

As far back as last summer we noted Murphy and Bryan Bresee were expected to be top half of the first-round type selections and it appears the up and down season for Murphy and Bresee’s injury history has not scared teams away.  At least theoretically.

Bresee still has a decision to make and while playing in the Orange Bowl may make Clemson fans believe he’s returning, that’s not necessarily the case.

What does Murphy’s evaluation look like as he prepares for the draft?  Much like one would expect, at least in this evaluation.

"Murphy is best known for his combination of elite athleticism and size. He is elite at two things that can’t really be taught, which already gives him a leg up on his competition. Pair that along with his length, he can be tough to contain for most tackles.For one, Murphy’s floor is higher than most players in this draft, due to those two things, and his run-stopping ability."

As for negatives, there’s much of what we’ve seen as Clemson fans.

"The Clemson star also has some trouble finishing plays. He does a great job creating pressure and pursuing the ball carrier, but there has been a handful of times where he either whiffs due to being out of control or gets shaken off. In 2022, he had a missed tackle rate of 15.4%."

Clemson football defensive end Myles Murphy has elite skills that can’t be taught

Being elite at two things that can’t be taught is why Murphy projects where he does in the draft.  Those won’t change if he returns next year, so it’s probably the correct decision for Murphy to move on.

Some will argue he should come back for another season, but assuming he’s a top 15 pick the upside potential may not be worth another year of wear and tear on his body at the collegiate level and potential catastrophic injury.

If he was projected as a 2nd rounder? Absolutely, stay for another year to work yourself into a day one pick.  But if he truly projects as a top 15 pick, there’s very little to be gained football-wise of another year in college, when you could be making millions in the NFL.

Clemson Men’s Basketball shows versatility

Clemson beat Georgia Tech in Atlanta Wednesday evening and showed the ability to win differently.  We shouldn’t make too much of it, as it was a 100+ rated Georgia Tech team, but the Tigers shot fewer threes without Alex Hemenway being available and the result was a dominating win with double-doubles from both P.J. Hall (25/10) and Hunter Tyson (14/13).

The Tigers are now No. 61 in the KenPom.com rankings and are sporting the No. 40 offensive efficiency in the nation of 363 Division I teams.  Rarified air for a Brad Brownell team, but let’s see where they are after a month of ACC competition.