Clemson Recruiting Rewind: NFL Draft Edition

Over the past week, a total of 14 Tigers have signed contracts to play professional football. That number could actually sit at 15 if you want to count Daniel Rodriguez’s rookie camp invite to Washington.

While many of us, myself included, get caught up in the new age recruiting world, this article will show you why all these recruiting services are not the official authority on a player’s potential. Need proof? Just take a look at the two former Tigers who are headed down to I-85 to play in Atlanta. Top 10 pick Vic Beasley is a guy who came to Clemson as a tight end before moving to linebacker and settling in as a defensive end, where he ultimately became the all-time sack leader in just 3 full seasons. Then you have Grady Jarrett whose size has been well documented during his journey to the draft. Ranked as a 2-star prospect coming out of high school, Jarrett was virtually unstoppable during his junior and senior seasons in a Tiger uniform. While most of Clemson’s highly touted prospects over the last few years have lived up to their billing, there have bee a couple that rarely saw the field in a Clemson uniform. Guys like Mike Bellamy and Lateek Townsend are examples of highly rated prospects who, for various reasons, could not deliver on their lofty recruiting rankings.

Following recruiting is both fun and important, but when it comes to production don’t be too quick to judge the little guys. Let them strap it up and prove their worth on the field.

Here’s a look at how these NFL players were ranked before they were Tigers:

Vic Beasley-LB

1st Round to Falcons (#8 overall)

247: 3-star, #483 overall, #22 TE

Rivals: 3-star, NR overall, #37 ATH

Stephone Anthony-LB

1st Round to Saints (#31 overall)

247: 5-star, #10 overall, #1 OLB

Rivals: 5-star, #24 overall, #3 OLB

Grady Jarrett-DT

5th Round to Falcons (#137 overall)

247: 2-star, #1416 overall, #100 DT

Rivals: 3-star, NR overall, NR DT

Bradley Pinion-P

5th Round to 49ers (#165 overall)

247: 3-star, #1375 overall, #1 P

Rivals: 3-star, NR overall, #4 K

Tony Steward-LB

6th Round to Bills (#188 overall)

247: 5-star, #12 overall, #2 OLB

Rivals: 5-star, #13 overall, #1 OLB

Tavaris Barnes-DE

Signed FA contract with Saints

247: 4-star, #381 overall, #23 SDE

Rivals: 4-star, NR overall, #29 DT

Corey Crawford-DE

Signed FA contract with Redskins

247: 4-star, #193 overall, #14 SDE

Rivals: 4-star, NR overall, #20 SDE

Kalon Davis-OG

Signed FA contract with Broncos

247: 3-star, #712 overall, #35 OG

Rivals: 3-star, NR overall, #34 OG

Adam Humphries-WR

Signed FA contract with Buccaneers

247: 2-star, #1579 overall, #201 WR

Rivals: 2-star, NR overall, NR WR

Garry Peters-CB

Signed FA contract with Panthers

247: 3-star, #324 overall, #22 CB

Rivals: 4-star, NR overall, #20 CB

Robert Smith-S

Signed FA contract with Colts

247: 2-star, #1480 overall, #109 S

Rivals: 3-star, NR overall, NR ATH

Cole Stoudt-QB

Signed FA contract with Chargers

247: 3-star, #711 overall, #24 PRO

Rivals: 3-star, NR overall, #21 PRO

Josh Watson-DT

Signed FA contract with Broncos

247: 3-star, #5 JUCO, #1 JUCO DT

Rivals: 4-star, NR overall, NR DT

DeShawn Williams-DT

Signed FA contract with Bengals

247: 3-star, #628 overall, #49 DT

Rivals: 3-star, NR overall, NR DT