NFL Hot Press
*Walt taking 2014 and 2018 |
Charlie Campbell, Senior Draft Analyst |
Clemson's Lawson and Alexander Don't Receive First-Round Grades
Updated Nov. 20, 2015By Charlie Campbell. Follow Charlie on Twitter @draftcampbell.
In recent years Clemson has featured some high-powered offenses with good NFL talent on both sides of the ball. This year a balanced team with a tough defense has led them to the No.1 ranking in college football. Two of their top defensive prospects for the next level are redshirt sophomore cornerback Mackensie Alexander and junior defensive end Shaq Lawson. There has been speculation that both could enter the 2016 NFL Draft, but in speaking with league sources, neither is grading out as a first-round pick.
Some have projected Alexander to be a first-round pick as a cover corner. The 5-foot-11, 195-pounder has 18 tackles with three passes broken up in 2015. Last year he had 21 tackles and six breakups. Sources say that Alexander is a physical corner, but he is tight and looks more likely to be a player that competes for nickel reps. They view him as more of a mid-rounder.
Lawson has played really well this season with 41 tackles, 17.5 tackles for a loss and 7.5 sacks. The 6-foot-3, 270-pounder has quickness and strength on the edge. He had an impressive showing going against Notre Dame left tackle Ronnie Stanley. Sources say that they like Lawson as a prospect and he is a smooth athlete that could be a good fit as a base left end in a 4-3 defense. They say that he is not very explosive or twitchy. They grade him out as a second-day prospect.
Of course those grades could go up if Alexander and Lawson return to Clemson to improve before going pro. A number of sources said former Clemson defensive end Vic Beasley probably would have gone in the second round or late first round if he had entered the draft after his junior year. He returned for his senior season and had a big season to end up being a top-10 pick to Atlanta. Right now sources don't view Alexander or Lawson as worthy of going in the first round if they enter the 2016 NFL Draft.
Comment on this story here.
Previous Three Articles:
Next Three Articles:
NFL Hot Press Month of Aug. 2023
NFL Hot Press Month of July 2023
NFL Hot Press Month of April 2023
NFL Hot Press Month of March 2023
NFL Hot Press Month of Feb. 2023
NFL Hot Press Month of Jan. 2023
NFL Hot Press Month of Dec. 2022
NFL Hot Press Month of Nov. 2022
NFL Hot Press Month of Oct. 2022
NFL Hot Press Month of Sept. 2022
NFL Hot Press Month of Aug. 2022
NFL Hot Press Month of July 2022
NFL Hot Press Month of June 2022
NFL Hot Press Month of April 2022
NFL Hot Press Month of March 2022
NFL Hot Press Month of Feb. 2022
NFL Hot Press Month of Jan. 2022
NFL Hot Press Month of Dec. 2021
NFL Hot Press Month of Nov. 2021
NFL Hot Press Month of Oct. 2021
NFL Hot Press Month of Sept. 2021
NFL Hot Press Month of Aug. 2021
NFL Hot Press Month of July 2021
NFL Hot Press Month of June 2021
NFL Hot Press Month of May 2021
NFL Hot Press Month of April 2021
NFL Hot Press Month of March 2021
NFL Hot Press Month of Feb. 2021
NFL Hot Press Month of Jan. 2021
NFL Hot Press Month of Dec. 2020
NFL Hot Press Month of Nov. 2020
NFL Hot Press Month of Oct. 2020
NFL Hot Press Month of Sept. 2020
NFL Hot Press Month of Aug. 2020
NFL Hot Press Month of July 2020
NFL Hot Press Month of June 2020
NFL Hot Press Month of May 2020
NFL Hot Press Month of April 2020
NFL Hot Press Month of March 2020
NFL Hot Press Month of Feb. 2020
NFL Hot Press Month of Jan. 2020
NFL Hot Press Month of Dec. 2019
NFL Hot Press Month of Nov. 2019
NFL Hot Press Month of Oct. 2019
NFL Hot Press Month of Sept. 2019
NFL Hot Press Month of Aug. 2019
NFL Hot Press Month of July 2019
NFL Hot Press Month of June 2019
NFL Hot Press Month of April 2019
NFL Hot Press Month of March 2019
NFL Hot Press Month of Feb. 2019
NFL Hot Press Month of Jan. 2019
NFL Hot Press Month of Dec. 2018
NFL Hot Press Month of Nov. 2018
NFL Hot Press Month of Oct. 2018
NFL Hot Press Month of Sept. 2018
NFL Hot Press Month of Aug. 2018
NFL Hot Press Month of July 2018
NFL Hot Press Month of June 2018
NFL Hot Press Month of May 2018
NFL Hot Press Month of April 2018
NFL Hot Press Month of March 2018
NFL Hot Press Month of Feb. 2018
NFL Hot Press Month of Jan. 2018
NFL Hot Press Month of Dec. 2017
NFL Hot Press Month of Nov. 2017
NFL Hot Press Month of Oct. 2017
NFL Hot Press Month of Sept. 2017
NFL Hot Press Month of Aug. 2017
NFL Hot Press Month of July 2017
NFL Hot Press Month of June 2017
NFL Hot Press Month of May 2017
NFL Hot Press Month of April 2017
NFL Hot Press Month of March 2017
NFL Hot Press Month of Feb. 2017
NFL Hot Press Month of Jan. 2017
NFL Hot Press Month of Dec. 2016
NFL Hot Press Month of Nov. 2016
NFL Hot Press Month of Oct. 2016
NFL Hot Press Month of Sept. 2016
NFL Hot Press Month of Aug. 2016
NFL Hot Press Month of July 2016
NFL Hot Press Month of June 2016
NFL Hot Press Month of April 2016
NFL Hot Press Month of March 2016
NFL Hot Press Month of Feb. 2016
NFL Hot Press Month of Jan. 2016
NFL Hot Press Month of Dec. 2015
NFL Hot Press Month of Nov. 2015
NFL Hot Press Month of Oct. 2015
NFL Hot Press Month of Sept. 2015
NFL Hot Press Month of Aug. 2015
NFL Hot Press Month of July 2015
NFL Hot Press Month of June 2015
NFL Hot Press Month of May 2015
NFL Hot Press Month of April 2015
NFL Hot Press Month of March 2015
NFL Hot Press Month of Feb. 2015
NFL Hot Press Month of Jan. 2015
NFL Hot Press Month of Dec. 2014
NFL Hot Press Month of Nov. 2014
NFL Hot Press Month of Oct. 2014
NFL Hot Press Month of Sept. 2014
NFL Hot Press Month of Aug. 2014
NFL Hot Press Month of July 2014
NFL Hot Press Month of June 2014