locked&loaded
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Another Mcginn summary on 2023 Edge players.
It comes up every year in probably every draft room. Say hello to the Clemson Curse.
For all the success Clemson football has enjoyed for decades, NFL teams often haven’t benefited. The only reason this story is being written stemmed from the fact that three scouts, without solicitation, brought up the stigma associated with players from Clemson.
“I’m really biased here because I’ve scouted a bunch of busts at this school,” a seasoned evaluator said. “But that Clemson helmet scares the **** out of me on the defensive line. Enough of us have been burned over the years. You’re forever on guard.”
In my poll asking 17 scouts which edge rusher had the best chance to bust, one personnel director picked Myles Murphy. Asked why, he replied, “You know. Clemson.”
...Everyone has a history with Clemson players. In my 40-plus years covering the Packers, the only other Tigers they drafted were defensive tackle Donnell Washington (third round, 2004) and wide receiver Amari Rodgers (third round, 2021). Coach-GM Mike Sherman drafted Washington, who was so bad he never played in a regular-season game. GM Brian Gutekunst drafted Rodgers, who was so bad he was cut after 1 ½ seasons and almost zero production.
“I trust you get what I am trying to say,” Wolf concluded. “If one is interested in a player from Clemson, you best do your due diligence.”
He added: “Interesting they only have one player in the Pro Football Hall of Fame. Brian Dawkins. But that (DeAndre) Hopkins kid that plays for the Cardinals is, in my opinion, an elite player and will eventually end up in the Hall.”
The timing is appropriate for an examination because Clemson might be ready to have three players drafted in the first round Thursday. Defensive lineman Bryan Bresee, linebacker Trenton Simpson and Murphy have some things in common.
They all were 5-star recruits in 2020, but not just any old 5-stars. Bresee was the No. 1 defensive tackle prospect (and No. 1 overall player) in that recruiting class, Murphy was the No. 1 strong-side defensive end (and No. 7 player overall) and Simpson was the No. 1 outside linebacker (and No. 26 player
overall).
One personnel chief was quick to link the three. “Every defender at Clemson this year has got a soft label to him,” he said. “That’s just the way Dabo (Swinney) runs that program. That’s part of the monster you’ve got to live with. It’s the D-line, the O-line, it’s a lot.”
...“Dabo’s the worst,” said one scout. “You go to pro day and he talks about everyone on the team as if they’re the next great NFL player. It’s, like, c’mon, man. He talks about the fifth-year senior that hasn’t played and he’s talking about he should be a starter in the NFL.
“He’s so full of ****. That whole culture says a lot about a team and the players. Pampering players, making excuses for them, enabling certain things with players.”
...My poll of 17 scouts asked them to pick their top five edge rushers on a 1-2-3-4-5 basis. It was a runaway for Will Anderson, who captured 15 first-place votes and totaled 82 points.
Following Anderson, in order, were Tyree Wilson (54, one), Myles Murphy (33), Lukas Van Ness (29), Will McDonald (19, one), Nolan Smith (16), Isaiah Foskey (seven), BJ Ojulari (four), Derick Hall (three), D.J. Johnson (three), Viliami Fehoko (two), Tavius Robinson (one), Tuli Tuipulotu (one) and Byron Young (one).
“There isn’t a dominant guy,” a personnel director said of the edge-rusher group as a whole. “It’s not bad. Not great.”
When the 17 scouts were asked to pick the best pass rusher in the draft, the vote was: Anderson, 10; McDonald, three; Jalen Carter, two, and two players, Calijah Kancey and Wilson, each with one.
It comes up every year in probably every draft room. Say hello to the Clemson Curse.
For all the success Clemson football has enjoyed for decades, NFL teams often haven’t benefited. The only reason this story is being written stemmed from the fact that three scouts, without solicitation, brought up the stigma associated with players from Clemson.
“I’m really biased here because I’ve scouted a bunch of busts at this school,” a seasoned evaluator said. “But that Clemson helmet scares the **** out of me on the defensive line. Enough of us have been burned over the years. You’re forever on guard.”
In my poll asking 17 scouts which edge rusher had the best chance to bust, one personnel director picked Myles Murphy. Asked why, he replied, “You know. Clemson.”
...Everyone has a history with Clemson players. In my 40-plus years covering the Packers, the only other Tigers they drafted were defensive tackle Donnell Washington (third round, 2004) and wide receiver Amari Rodgers (third round, 2021). Coach-GM Mike Sherman drafted Washington, who was so bad he never played in a regular-season game. GM Brian Gutekunst drafted Rodgers, who was so bad he was cut after 1 ½ seasons and almost zero production.
“I trust you get what I am trying to say,” Wolf concluded. “If one is interested in a player from Clemson, you best do your due diligence.”
He added: “Interesting they only have one player in the Pro Football Hall of Fame. Brian Dawkins. But that (DeAndre) Hopkins kid that plays for the Cardinals is, in my opinion, an elite player and will eventually end up in the Hall.”
The timing is appropriate for an examination because Clemson might be ready to have three players drafted in the first round Thursday. Defensive lineman Bryan Bresee, linebacker Trenton Simpson and Murphy have some things in common.
They all were 5-star recruits in 2020, but not just any old 5-stars. Bresee was the No. 1 defensive tackle prospect (and No. 1 overall player) in that recruiting class, Murphy was the No. 1 strong-side defensive end (and No. 7 player overall) and Simpson was the No. 1 outside linebacker (and No. 26 player
overall).
One personnel chief was quick to link the three. “Every defender at Clemson this year has got a soft label to him,” he said. “That’s just the way Dabo (Swinney) runs that program. That’s part of the monster you’ve got to live with. It’s the D-line, the O-line, it’s a lot.”
...“Dabo’s the worst,” said one scout. “You go to pro day and he talks about everyone on the team as if they’re the next great NFL player. It’s, like, c’mon, man. He talks about the fifth-year senior that hasn’t played and he’s talking about he should be a starter in the NFL.
“He’s so full of ****. That whole culture says a lot about a team and the players. Pampering players, making excuses for them, enabling certain things with players.”
...My poll of 17 scouts asked them to pick their top five edge rushers on a 1-2-3-4-5 basis. It was a runaway for Will Anderson, who captured 15 first-place votes and totaled 82 points.
Following Anderson, in order, were Tyree Wilson (54, one), Myles Murphy (33), Lukas Van Ness (29), Will McDonald (19, one), Nolan Smith (16), Isaiah Foskey (seven), BJ Ojulari (four), Derick Hall (three), D.J. Johnson (three), Viliami Fehoko (two), Tavius Robinson (one), Tuli Tuipulotu (one) and Byron Young (one).
“There isn’t a dominant guy,” a personnel director said of the edge-rusher group as a whole. “It’s not bad. Not great.”
When the 17 scouts were asked to pick the best pass rusher in the draft, the vote was: Anderson, 10; McDonald, three; Jalen Carter, two, and two players, Calijah Kancey and Wilson, each with one.
