Highest-rated defensive ends Clemson Football could pursue in the transfer portal

NaNa Osafo-Mensah

Next, we do a 180-degree turn from Division II Gannon to one of the blue bloods of Division 1.

Osafo-Mensah is transferring out of Notre Dame. He went to Nolan Catholic High School in Fort Worth, Texas. He is 6’-3” and 265 pounds. As a prospect, 247Sports rated him as a 4-star and ranked him as the 222nd-best overall player in the country. Classically if a player is in the Top 250, they are considered a very good prospect.

247’s Gabe Brooks said this of him in high school:

"“Overall a very high ceiling and all-conference type of down-the-road talent at the high-major level. Long-term potential to become an NFL Draft pick.”"

Often ratings are based on the long-term, not the immediate. Brooks noted in his review:

"“High school production not as dominant as expected vs. private school competition in Texas.”"

To put this one in perspective, Osafa-Mensah is rated as a 3-star transfer prospect by 247Sports. He had 20 tackles and 3 sacks, which isn’t bad considering he was splitting time with Javontae Jean-Baptiste, who transferred in from Ohio State.

As the season progressed, Jean-Baptiste started seeing the edge in playing time and starts, which is why Osafo-Mensah is exiting for his final season.

Could a coach like Rumph unlock the potential in one season?