NOTES ON EACH SELECTION
NOTES ON THE SELECTION OF NATE WIGGINS:
– Wiggins became the 78th NFL Draft selection in Dabo Swinney’s head coaching tenure and the 18th first-round pick of Swinney’s tenure. Both are the most of any active FBS head coach since Swinney assumed the head coaching role.
– Wiggins became Clemson’s 39th first-round pick in NFL Draft history.
– Wiggins’ selection marked the eighth time in the last 10 years that a defensive player was Clemson’s first selection in a draft. The two exceptions in that nine-year span came in 2017 (WR Mike Williams at No. 7) and 2021 (QB Trevor Lawrence at No. 1). Clemson’s defense has now produced the program’s first pick of an NFL Draft 17 times since the turn of the century and in 11 of the 16 drafts of Dabo Swinney’s tenure.
– Wiggins became the 41st Clemson defensive back drafted in the Common Draft era (since 1967). He joined Terry Kinard (No. 10 in 1983), Donnell Woolford (No. 11 in 1989), Antwan Edwards (No. 25 in 1999), Tye Hill (No. 15 in 2006) and A.J. Terrell (No. 16 in 2020) as the sixth Clemson defensive back to be a first-round pick in that span.
– Wiggins became the 18th Clemson defensive back coached directly by Assistant Head Coach/Cornerbacks Coach Mike Reed to either be drafted or signed in the NFL.
– The selection of Wiggins — an Atlanta native — marked the fourth consecutive year that Clemson’s first selection in an NFL Draft hailed from the state of Georgia (Cartersville’s Trevor Lawrence in 2021, Dacula’s Andrew Booth Jr. in 2022 and Marietta’s Myles Murphy in 2023.
– Wiggins became the second Clemson player drafted by the Baltimore Ravens all-time. Prior to last year, the Ravens had never drafted a Clemson player until selecting linebacker Trenton Simpson in the third round of the 2023 NFL Draft.
– Wiggins became the second No. 30 overall pick all-time, joining Dave Thompson’s selection by the Detroit Lions in the second round of the 1971 NFL Draft.
– Wiggins became the third defensive back drafted by the Ravens in the first round since 2017, joining Pro Bowlers Kyle Hamilton (2022) and Marlon Humphrey (2017).
NOTES ON THE SELECTION OF RUKE ORHORHORO:
– Orhorhoro became the 79th NFL Draft selection in Dabo Swinney’s head coaching tenure and the 12th second-round pick of his tenure.
– Orhorhoro’s selection combined with the Baltimore Ravens’ selection of Nate Wiggins in the first round gave Clemson selections in both the first and second round for the 10th time in school history (1960, 1987, 1992, 1997, 1999, 2016, 2019, 2020 and 2021).
– Orhorhoro became Clemson’s eighth all-time NFL Draft selection by the Atlanta Falcons, joining DB Rod McSwain (1984), CB Reggie Pleasant (1985), RB Kenny Flowers (1987), DE Malliciah Goodman (2013), DE Vic Beasley (2015), DT Grady Jarrett (2015) and CB A.J. Terrell (2020). The Falcons also selected LB Randy Smith in the 1966 NFL Supplemental Draft.
– Each of Clemson’s last three selections by the Falcons — DE Vic Beasley, DT Grady Jarrett and CB A.J. Terrell — have earned at least one Pro Bowl or All-Pro selection.
– Orhorhoro became the second No. 35 overall pick in Clemson history, joining Joe Blalock, who was selected at No. 35 overall in the fifth round of the 1942 NFL Draft.
– Orhorhoro became the 21st member of Clemson’s front seven to be drafted since the 2015 NFL Draft. Entering the 2024 NFL Draft, Dabo Swinney ranked first among active coaches and second among all coaches — active or inactive — in front-seven draft picks produced in that span.
– Orhorhoro became the ninth Clemson defensive lineman selected in the first two rounds of a draft since the 2015 NFL Draft.
– Orhorhoro (who played his prep career in River Rouge, Mich. adjacent to Detroit) became the first Clemson player since the NFL moved away from its long-time location in New York City to be selected in a draft being held in his home metro area.
NOTES ON THE SELECTION OF WILL SHIPLEY:
– Shipley became the 80th NFL Draft selection in Dabo Swinney’s head coaching tenure and the 15th fourth-round pick of his tenure.
– Shipley became the 13th Clemson player drafted by the Eagles all-time, joining G Frank Gillespie (1949), T Nathan Gressette (1954), G Clyde White (1955), C Wingo Avery (1955), C Jim Padgett (1958), T Jack Smith (1959), G Jim Payne (1959), G Eric Harmon (1991), SS Brian Dawkins (1996), DB C.J. Gaddis (2007), DE Ricky Sapp (2010) and S K’Von Wallace (2020).
– Shipley’s draft destination (Philadelphia), round (fourth) and overall selection (No. 127) were identical to K’Von Wallace’s selection by the Eagles in 2020. Shipley became the fourth Clemson player selected at No. 127 all-time, joining DT Archie Reese (1978), Malliciah Goodman (2013) and K’Von Wallace (2020).
– Shipley became the 18th Clemson running back selected in the Common Draft era (since 1967).
– Shipley joined James Davis (2009), C.J. Spiller (2010), Jamie Harper (2011), Andre Ellington (2013), Zac Brooks (2016), Wayne Gallman (2017) and Travis Etienne (2021) to become the eighth Clemson running back selected in the Dabo Swinney era.
– Of the 54 underclassmen granted special eligibility in the 2024 NFL Draft, Shipley was one of only four to enter the draft early with a college degree already in hand (Miami’s Kamren Kinchens, Alabama’s Kool-Aid McKinstry and Texas’ Byron Murphy).
– Shipley enters the NFL as the only FBS player confirmed to ever accrue 4,000 career all-purpose yards and a perfect 4.0 GPA while graduating in only three years.
NOTES ON THE SELECTION OF XAVIER THOMAS:
– Thomas became the 81st NFL Draft selection in Dabo Swinney’s head coaching tenure and the 16th fifth-round pick of his tenure.
– Thomas became the 16th Clemson player drafted by the Cardinals all-time, joining E Gus Goins (1939), B Shad Bryant (1940), T Earl Wrightenberry (1953), T Bill Hudson (1957), T Harold Olson (1960), T Jimmy King (1961), T Ricky Johnson (1966), C Wayne Mulligan (1969), T Joe Bostic (1979), PK Bob Paulling (1984), TE K.D. Dunn (1985), CB Dexter Davis (1991), DT Vance Hammond (1991), RB Andre Ellington (2013) and LB Isaiah Simmons (2020).
– Thomas became the third Clemson player drafted specifically by the Arizona Cardinals. Clemson had four players drafted by the Chicago Cardinals, seven drafted by the St. Louis Cardinals, two drafted by the Phoenix Cardinals and now three drafted by the Arizona Cardinals.
– Arizona’s 16 all-time NFL Draft selections from Clemson are the third-most of any franchise, trailing the Giants (18) and Steelers (17).
– Thomas was the third Clemson player drafted with the No. 138 overall pick all-time, joining C Ralph Jenkins
(1947) and SS Leomont Evans (1996).
– Thirteen of Clemson’s 16 primary defensive end starters in Dabo Swinney’s 15 full seasons as head coach have been either drafted or signed into the NFL (Da’Quan Bowers, Ricky Sapp, Andre Branch, Malliciah Goodman, Corey Crawford, Vic Beasley, Kevin Dodd, Shaq Lawson, Clelin Ferrell, Austin Bryant, Myles Murphy, K.J. Henry and Thomas). Justin Mascoll can become the 14th if he is signed to a free agent contract in the coming weeks.
– Thomas and fellow defensive end Justin Mascoll comprise the last cohort of players from Clemson’s 2018 national championship squad to enter the NFL. That squad produced 23 NFL Draft picks and 19 college free agent signings (potentially 20 pending resolution of Mascoll’s NFL pursuit).
– Thomas became the 22nd member of Clemson’s front seven to be drafted since the 2015 NFL Draft. Entering the 2024 NFL Draft, Dabo Swinney ranked first among active coaches and second among all coaches — active or inactive — in front-seven draft picks produced in that span.
NOTES ON THE SELECTION OF JEREMIAH TROTTER JR.:
– Trotter became the 82nd NFL Draft selection in Dabo Swinney’s head coaching tenure and the 17th fifth-round pick of his tenure.
– Trotter became the 14th Clemson player drafted by the Eagles all-time, joining G Frank Gillespie (1949), T Nathan Gressette (1954), G Clyde White (1955), C Wingo Avery (1955), C Jim Padgett (1958), T Jack Smith (1959), G Jim Payne (1959), G Eric Harmon (1991), SS Brian Dawkins (1996), DB C.J. Gaddis (2007), DE Ricky Sapp (2010), S K’Von Wallace (2020) and RB Will Shipley (2024).
– The Eagles became the fourth NFL franchise to select at least 14 Clemson players in the NFL Draft all-time, joining the Giants, Steelers and Cardinals. The Rams joined the list later in the draft.
– Trotter became the second No. 155 overall pick in Clemson history, joining C Rick Harrell (1973).
– Trotter became the eighth off-ball linebacker drafted from Clemson since the 2015 NFL Draft. Trotter joined Stephone Anthony (2015), Tony Steward (2015), B.J. Goodson (2016), Dorian O’Daniel (2018), Isaiah Simmons (2020), Baylon Spector (2022) and Trenton Simpson (2023) in that group.
– Trotter became the first Clemson player to join his father as an NFL Draft pick since wide receiver Amari Rodgers — the son of quarterback and 2000 NFL Draft pick Tee Martin — was selected by the Green Bay Packers in 2020. Trotter’s father was a third round pick of the Eagles in the 1998 NFL Draft.
– Trotter played his prep career at Philadelphia’s St. Joseph Prep. He became the ninth Clemson player in the Common Draft era to be drafted by a home state team: T Andre Hewitt (Dayton, Ohio — Cleveland Browns in 1994), LB Wardell Rouse (Clewiston, Fla. — Tampa Bay Buccaneers in 1995), S Chris Clemons (Arcadia, Fla. — Miami Dolphins in 2009), CB Coty Sensabaugh (Kingsport, Tenn. — Tennessee Titans in 2012), DE Vic Beasley (Adairsville, Ga — Atlanta Falcons in 2015), DT Grady Jarrett (Conyers, Ga. — Atlanta Falcons in 2015), CB A.J. Terrell (Atlanta, Ga. — Atlanta Falcons in 2020) and T Jackson Carman (Fairfield, Ohio — Cincinnati Bengals in 2021).
– Trotter became the 23rd member of Clemson’s front seven to be drafted since the 2015 NFL Draft. Entering the 2024 NFL Draft, Dabo Swinney ranked first among active coaches and second among all coaches — active or inactive — in front-seven draft picks produced in that span.
NOTES ON THE SELECTION OF TYLER DAVIS:
– Davis became the 83rd NFL Draft selection in Dabo Swinney’s head coaching tenure and the 16th sixth-round pick of his tenure.
– Davis became the 14th NFL Draft selection from Clemson in Rams history, joining B Jackie Calvert (1951), C Bill Thomas (1958), T Don Chuy (1963), LB Danny Triplett (1983), P Dale Hatcher (1985), CB Dexter McCleon (1997), RB Raymond Priester (1998), G Glenn Rountree (1998), CB Tye Hill (2006), C Dustin Fry (2007), DT Dorell Scott (2009), T Tremayne Anchrum (2020) and TE Davis Allen (2023). (Note: The Rams also have an additional NFL Supplemental Draft selection in franchise history: T Isaiah Battle (2015).)
– The Rams became the fifth franchise to draft at least 14 Clemson players all-time (Giants, 18; Steelers, 17; Cardinals, 16; Eagles, 14).
– Including the selection of TE Davis Allen a year ago, the Rams selected Clemson players in back-to-back drafts for the first time since 2006-07 when the franchise selected CB Tye Hill and C Dustin Fry in consecutive years.
– Davis became the 24th member of Clemson’s front seven to be drafted since the 2015 NFL Draft. Entering the 2024 NFL Draft, Dabo Swinney ranked first among active coaches and second among all coaches — active or inactive — in front-seven draft picks produced in that span.
– With the selections of Davis and Ruke Orhorhoro in this draft, all but one of Clemson’s primary starters at defensive tackle in Dabo Swinney’s 15 full seasons as head coach have been drafted or signed into the NFL (Jarvis Jenkins, Brandon Thompson, Rennie Moore, Grady Jarrett, Josh Watson, DeShawn Williams, Carlos Watkins, Dexter Lawrence, Christian Wilkins, Bryan Bresee, Orhorhoro and Davis).
