Rod Gardner Headed For Big Apple, NFL Draft

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Clemson, SC – Clemson wide receiver Rod Gardner could be a high first-round draft choice in this weekend’s NFL draft. The event, which has been held every year since 1936, will be held in New York on Saturday and Sunday. Gardner has been ranked as high as seventh by some NFL draft experts.

Gardner finished his Clemson career as the school’s all-time leader in receptions with 166. This past year he caught 58 passes for 1050 yards and seven scores. He was named a first-team All-American by Gannett News Service and College & Pro Football Weekly. For his career he had 166 catches for 2498 yards and 13 touchdowns.

If Gardner is chosen within the top 10 picks he would be Clemson’s first top 10 selection since the 1983 draft when Terry Kinard was chosen 10th by the New York Giants. Banks McFadden was the number-four selection of the 1940 draft by the Brooklyn Dodgers and that is the highest selection in Clemson football history.

Only one athlete in Clemson history has been taken as the number-one selection of any draft. Kris Benson was the number-one choice of the Pittsburgh Pirates in the 1996 Major League Baseball Draft. The second highest selection in Clemson sports history took place earlier this academic year when soccer All-American Mark Lisi was the number-three selection of the MLS Draft by D.C. United. That has been a wise choice so far, as Lisi already has two game-winning goals in the young MLS season.

Clemson’s Highest Selections In NFL Draft

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