CLEMSON, S.C. — The Day 3 selections of defensive end Austin Bryant and wide receiver Hunter Renfrow brought Clemson’s total number of draftees in the 2019 NFL Draft to six on Saturday. The Detroit Lions selected Bryant in the fourth round (No. 117 overall), and the Oakland Raiders added Renfrow in the fifth round (No. 149 overall).
Clemson’s six picks in 2019 led the ACC, outpacing Miami (five), Boston College (four) and NC State (four) among conference programs to produce at least four picks this year. Clemson has produced at least five picks in five of the last six drafts, joining Alabama and Ohio State as one of only three programs in the country to do so.
With the six selections in 2019, Head Coach Dabo Swinney has now presided over 57 draft picks during his full-time tenure in Clemson, dating back to the 2009 season. He and Jimbo Fisher are tied for the fourth-most draft picks of any coach in that time frame, and the duo ranks tied for second among head coaches who remain active entering the 2019 season.
Bryant’s selection on Day 3 ended a 40-year drought between picks from Clemson for the Lions, as he became Detroit’s first selection from Clemson since 1979. He was the fourth Clemson defensive lineman selected in 2019, resulting in Clemson’s entire starting defensive line from its 2018 national championship squad being selected within the first 117 picks of the draft. Clemson’s output marked the 10th time in the Common Draft era (since 1967) that a school produced at least four draft picks on the defensive line in a single draft, joining NC State (2018), LSU (2013), Florida (2007), Wisconsin (2005), Miami (2003), Texas (1992), Miami (1990), Notre Dame (1972) and Grambling State (1970).
Renfrow’s selection by the Raiders in the fifth round gave Oakland three players from the same school in a single draft for the first time in the franchise’s history. It represents only the second time Clemson has had three players drafted by the same team in a single draft, joining three selections from Clemson by the New York Giants in 1983. Renfrow joins Clemson’s fraternity of NFL wide receivers, a group that combined for 34 receiving touchdowns in the NFL in 2018, the most by wide receivers from any school.