Jayron Kearse

Two-year starter at strong safety who was also a member of several special teams units … had 209 tackles, 12 tackles for loss, seven interceptions, 15 pass breakups, two caused fumbles and two recovered fumbles in 1,998 snaps over 40 games (29 starts) in his career … declared early for the 2016 NFL Draft … drafted in the seventh round (244th overall) by the Minnesota Vikings.

2015: Earned first-team All-America honors from the Associated Press and ESPN.com … second-team All-American according to CBS Sports and Sports Illustrated … first-team All-ACC (coaches) … second-team All-ACC (media) … fifth on the team with 87 tackles, including 6.5 for loss … also had eight pass breakups and five quarterback pressures in 856 snaps in 15 games (14 starts) … second on the team with seven special teams tackles … fine all-around game against Appalachian State, with an interception in the end zone and a pass breakup … graded 95 percent on film against Louisville, where he had four tackles … caused and recovered a fumble in 68 snaps against Notre Dame … it was one of the big plays of the year, as he knocked the ball loose at the one with under two minutes left … posted career-best three tackles for loss in win over Georgia Tech, earning a share of player-of-the-game honors by the coaching staff … posted eight tackles at NC State, with a pass breakup and tackle for loss … posted a tackle for loss and blocked his first career field goal at Syracuse … had two breakups at South Carolina, with two special teams tackles as well … posted 10 stops and two quarterback pressures in the Capital One Orange Bowl against Oklahoma.

2014: Had 67 tackles, five tackles for loss, three sacks, one quarterback pressure, a team-tying-high two interceptions for 21 yards, seven pass breakups and one recovered fumble in 698 snaps over 13 games (12 starts) … had nine tackles and a pass breakup in 55 snaps at No. 12 Georgia on Aug. 30 … had four tackles and two pass breakups in 24 snaps against SC State on Sept. 6 … had four tackles, a four-yard interception return and two pass breakups in 65 snaps at No. 1 Florida State on Sept. 20 … had eight tackles in 72 snaps against North Carolina on Sept. 27 … had 10 tackles, one tackle for loss and a pass breakup in 69 snaps against Louisville on Oct. 11; named team co-defensive player-of-the-game … one of the tackles saved the game on Louisville’s final drive … had five tackles and a sack in 58 snaps at Boston College on Oct. 18 … had six tackles, two tackles for loss and one sack in 61 snaps against Syracuse on Oct. 25 … had two tackles and a pass breakup in 69 snaps at Wake Forest on Nov. 6 … had four tackles and one sack in 64 snaps at No. 23 Georgia Tech on Nov. 15 … had five tackles and a 17-yard interception return in 44 snaps against Georgia State on Nov. 22 … had three tackles in 37 snaps against South Carolina on Nov. 29 … had four tackles and a 12-yard fumble return in 41 snaps against No. 24 Oklahoma in the Russell Athletic Bowl on Dec. 29.

2013: Had 55 tackles, 0.5 tackles for loss, a team-tying-high four interceptions for 62 yards and one caused fumble in 444 snaps over 12 games (three starts) … tied for fifth in the ACC in interceptions … had two tackles in 21 snaps against SC State on Sept. 7; it was his first career game … had five tackles in 23 snaps against Wake Forest on Sept. 28 … had eight tackles and his first career interception in 75 snaps at Syracuse on Oct. 5 … had four tackles in 38 snaps against Boston College on Oct. 12; it was his first career start … had two tackles and a 25-yard interception return in 47 snaps at Maryland on Oct. 26 … had three tackles, a 37-yard interception return and a caused fumble in 27 snaps at Virginia on Nov. 2; named team co-defensive player-of-the-game … had seven tackles in 57 snaps against The Citadel on Nov. 23 … had 10 tackles and 0.5 tackles for loss in playing all 81 snaps at No. 9 South Carolina on Nov. 30 … had nine tackles and a key interception in the third quarter in 72 snaps against No. 6 Ohio State in the Orange Bowl on Jan. 3.

Before Clemson: Rated as the No. 16 athlete in the nation by Rivals.com and 247Sports.com … No. 7 outside linebacker in the nation by Scout.com … top-300 All-American by PrepStar … area defensive player-of-the-year at South Fort Myers High School … helped his team to an 11-2 record as a senior … No. 15 athlete in the nation by MaxPreps … had 528 rushing yards and five touchdowns as a senior; averaged 12.3 yards per carry … averaged 18.9 yards per reception and scored five touchdowns … as a safety, he had 87 tackles, three sacks and an interception … had 1,600 rushing yards and 17 touchdowns as a junior … came to Clemson from the same high school as wide receiver Sammy Watkins … played in the Offense-Defense Bowl in Houston, Texas … coached by Grant Redhead … recruited by Tony Elliott.

Personal: His uncle, Jevon Kearse, was an All-America linebacker at Florida and an NFL All-Pro … his cousin, Phillip Buchanon, was a defensive back at Miami (Fla.) and played in the NFL … majoring in communication studies … born Feb. 11, 1994.