With the NFL season upon us in just about 1 month let’s look at who I think are the top Top 5 players in the NFL today are from Clemson.
**Disclaimer** I did not include Deshaun because he did not play last season. He would be #1 if he did.
- AJ Terrell
Last season AJ Terrell was arguably the best corner in the NFL. The second year Falcon played in and started all 16 games. He recorded 3 interceptions and 81 tackles. He had a missed tackle % of 6.9 and only gave up 3 touchdowns in 81 targets.
PFF gave him a grade of 82.6 and had a coverage grade of 90.2 which was the best in the league. He was snubbed of the pro bowl in 2021 but 2022 everyone will know his name on a poor Falcons team.
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Deandre Hopkins
In 2021 Hopkins was plagued by the injury bug suffering from rib, hamstring, and knee injuries. Despite these injuries and only playing in 10 games he grabbed 42 receptions for 572 and 8 touchdowns. He was on pace for a 5th consecutive one-thousand yard season and 7th in his 9 year career.
This coming season Hopkins will miss the first 6 games of the season due to a suspension for breaking the leagues PED policy. Hopkins didn’t play much but when he did play he was great and is the best receiver from Clemson in the NFL currently.
- Grady JarrettGrady Jarrett has been one of the more underrated defensive lineman in the NFL as of late. The 29 year old, 2015 5th-Rd pick also from the Falcons is one of the few bright spots on a very bad team.In 2021 he had a down year in terms of sacks with only 1 but he played in all 17 games and recorded his second best tackles total in his career with 59. Jarretts best game in his career came in the Super Bowl against New England when he recorded 3 sacks.
- Mike Williams Last season Mike Williams had the best year all around of any Clemson receiver. With 2nd year QB Justin Herbert breaking out Williams would have his best season as a pro. He posted 1,146yds and 9 touchdowns this past season which led the team even with less receptions than Keenan Allen.Over his career Williams has posted over 1000 yards one other time and 9+ TDs one other time. I believe he will have an even better season this year as Herbert makes a run at the MVP this season.
- Tee HigginsTee Higgins followed up his great rookie season with an 1100 yard season in just 14 games and helped the Bengals go on an incredible Super Bowl run alongside rookie of the year Ja’marr Chase and Joe Burrow.In that offense he averaged almost 80 yards a game and 15 yards per catch. According to Nick Shook with Around the NFL Higgins was the #1 pass catcher by CROE at +9.8%. If you don’t know what that is then its the “Catch Rate over Expected”. He also had a catch rate % of 67% which was higher than his teammate Ja’marr Chase. Higgins rounds out the top 5 with many great players from Clemson in the league.
Honorable Mentions:
- Hunter Renfrow, Jayron Kearse, DJ Reader, Christian Wilkins, Isaiah Simmons, Dexter Lawrence
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