Clemson Communciations,
CLEMSON, S.C. —Running back Will Shipley, defensive end Xavier Thomas, linebacker Jeremiah Trotter Jr. and defensive tackle Tyler Davis all earned selections on Day 3 of the 2024 NFL Draft on Saturday, bringing Clemson’s total number of selections during the three-day draft to six.
The Philadelphia Eagles collected half of the day’s NFL-bound Tigers, first selecting Shipley in the fourth round (No. 127 overall) before nabbing Trotter in fifth (No. 155 overall). With the Eagles’ double dip this year, Clemson has now had a pair of teammates selected by a single team in seven of the last 10 NFL Drafts.
The selections of Thomas and Davis gave Clemson’s defensive line picks in back-to-back rounds. The Arizona Cardinals selected Thomas with the No. 138 overall pick in the fifth round, and the Los Angeles Rams picked Davis with the No. 196 overall selection in the sixth round. Davis’ selection at No. 196 gave Clemson six top-200 picks in this draft, tying a school record set seven previous times.
The six selections, including one first-round pick, give Clemson Head Coach Dabo Swinney 83 draft picks in his head coaching tenure, including 18 first-round picks. Swinney leads all active coaches in both categories since the first NFL Draft of his tenure in April 2009.
The draft further turns the page on Clemson’s 2023 season as the Tigers’ 2024 squad continues to prepare for its marquee season opener against the Georgia Bulldogs in Atlanta’s Mercedes-Benz Stadium on Aug. 31. Fans wishing to be part of Clemson’s renowned gameday experiences at Death Valley and receive priority for ticket requests for the season opener in Atlanta are encouraged to visit ClemsonTigers.com/FootballTickets for season ticket information.
Draft notes and comments from Clemson coaches from Day 3 of the 2024 NFL Draft are included below. Notes and comments from Days 1-2 as well as a social media recap are all available on ClemsonTigers.com Draft Central.
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DRAFT NOTES
NOTES ON CLEMSON’S 2024 NFL DRAFT:
– Clemson’s six selections tied for the fifth-most in school history, trailing 1983 (10), 2016 (nine), 1991 (eight) and 2020 (seven). Clemson produced six picks for a second straight draft and collected six or more selections for the sixth time in the last nine drafts.
– Clemson’s six selections all came in the top 200 picks, tying the school record for top-200 selections set seven previous times in 1991, 2011, 2016, 2017, 2019, 2020 and 2023.
– Clemson’s six top-200 selections tied for the eighth-most in this year’s draft.
– For the entire draft, Clemson’s six selections ranked second in the ACC and tied for 11th nationally.
– Clemson produced at least five selections for the fifth time in the last six NFL Drafts, including six selections in 2019, seven selections in 2020, five selections in 2021, six in 2023 and six in 2024. Clemson has produced at least five picks nine times in the last 11 drafts; only Alabama (11) and Ohio State (10) have done so more times in that span.
– Clemson has now had at least one first-round draft choice in 10 of the last 12 years, standing alongside Alabama, Florida, Georgia and Ohio State as the only programs to produce a first-round pick in at least 10 of the last 12 years.
– The Baltimore Ravens’ selection of Nate Wiggins represented Clemson’s 16th first-round pick since the 2014 NFL Draft, the most in the ACC. Clemson’s 16 first-round picks in that span are double the amount of the next closest program (Florida State, 8).
– Clemson has produced at least one Top 50 pick in 17 of the last 19 NFL Drafts, dating to 2006. The only drafts in that span in which Clemson did not produce a Top 50 pick were in 2009 and 2018. Florida (18), Clemson (17), Alabama (17), Ohio State (17) and USC (17) are the only schools to enter the 2024 NFL Draft having produced at least one Top 50 pick in at least 17 of the last 19 NFL Drafts.
– Clemson produced 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).
– Clemson had at least one player selected on all three days of the draft. The NFL moved to a three-day draft format in 2010; in that time, Clemson has produced a pick on all three days of a draft eight times, including doing so in eight out of the last 11 drafts.
– Clemson’s 2024 draft class included five defensive selections and one offensive selection. The five defensive selections were Clemson’s most since 2019 (six).
– The 2024 NFL Draft marked the eighth time since the NFL went to the seven-round format in 1994 that Clemson produced at least four defensive selections in a single draft (1999, 2011, 2015, 2016, 2019, 2020 and 2023). Clemson entered the 2024 NFL Draft as one of only six schools to have produced at least 45 defensive draft picks since the 2009 NFL Draft: Alabama, LSU, Ohio State, Georgia and Florida.
– Clemson produced multiple defensive draft picks for the 13th time in 16 drafts of the Dabo Swinney era. Clemson, LSU, Alabama, Ohio State and Georgia are the only programs to produce multiple draft picks from their defenses in at least 13 drafts in that span.
– Since 2013, Clemson has produced first-round picks from the QB, RB, WR, DE, DT, LB and DB position groups. The only other school with at least one first-rounder at all those positions in that span is Alabama.
– Clemson has had at least one player chosen by 30 of the 32 NFL franchises since 2003. The lone exceptions in that time frame are the Patriots, who last selected a Tiger in 1991, and the Panthers, who have never selected a Clemson player despite playing their first season in franchise history in Death Valley. Head Coach Dabo Swinney has produced a draft pick for 28 of the 32 NFL teams in his head coaching tenure; the only NFL teams not to select a Clemson player in Swinney’s head coaching tenure are the Chicago Bears, Denver Broncos, New England Patriots and Carolina Panthers.
– Clemson has had at least one player selected in 22 consecutive drafts since 2003, representing the second-longest streak in school history behind a 24-year streak across the 1951-74 NFL Drafts.
– Clemson is one of only six schools to have produced multiple draft picks in each of the last 22 NFL Drafts (LSU, Michigan, Oklahoma, Ohio State and USC).
– With the selections of RB Will Shipley and LB Jeremiah Trotter Jr. by the Philadelphia Eagles, Clemson has now had a set of teammates drafted by the same team in seven of the last 10 NFL Drafts. A total of 20 NFL Drafts have featured at least one team drafting a pair of Clemson teammates, including the 1946, 1951, 1955, 1959, 1960, 1968, 1970, 1972, 1979, 1983, 1991, 1998, 2003, 2015, 2016, 2017, 2019, 2020, 2021 and 2024 drafts.
– Eighteen of the NFL’s 32 active franchises have selected Clemson teammates in a single draft. The teams to do so include the Bears (1991), Bills (1960 AFL Draft), Broncos (2003), Browns (1968), Cardinals (1991), Chiefs (1979), Cowboys (1970), Dolphins (1998), Eagles (1955, 1959 and 2024), Falcons (2015), Giants (1960, 1983 and 1984, including Supplemental Draft of USFL Players), Jaguars (2021), Packers (1946), Raiders (2019 and 2020), Rams (1998), Steelers (1951 and 1972), Texans (2017) and Vikings (2016). This year, the Eagles tied the Giants for the most such occurences (three each).
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 theArizonaCardinals. 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).
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COACHES’ COMMENTS
ON WILL SHIPLEY
Head Coach Dabo Swinney:“Wherever Will Shipley got drafted, he was going to be underrated. Didn’t matter if he went in the third round or the seventh round. He’s an underrated guy. I say that because he’s just one of those people that I don’t know you can really appreciate unless you get to work with him and you get to see him work on a daily basis: how he practices, how he prepares, how he competes. I think he’s still just now coming into the best version of himself as a running back. The other thing about Shipley that I think teams love is that he’s dynamic. He can change the game with the ball in space. He can break tackles between the tackles. He can play receiver for you in the slot or make plays on the outside, and he can impact the game as a special teams guy in the return game. He brings a lot to the table, not to mention he’s an unbelievably smart kid. He never made below a 4.0. He will bring a fire and an energy. When he shows up and he steps on the practice field, he’s just a guy you notice every single day. He elevates everyone’s competitiveness because he’s only got one gear. I’m excited about what he’s going to bring. They’re getting a really, really good football player that will have a chance to make an impact as a rookie.”
Running Backs Coach C.J. Spiller:“Will has exceptional talent that makes him special from the rest because not only can he run the rock, but he is a guy you can move all around the field. He brings special teams value, so I know he will have an immediate impact. They are getting a five-star person. His leadership skills are what set him apart from everyone else and I know the entire building and community will love him.”
ON XAVIER THOMAS
Head Coach Dabo Swinney:“Man, I’m so happy for Xavier Thomas. This is truly a day that a couple of years ago I wasn’t sure was ever going to happen. I’m so proud of this kid. I’m so proud of how he’s persevered and hung in there. He’s overcome so many different things, and, man, he’s one of the more confident and determined guys that I’ve seen at this point in his career. When you go through all the things that he’s been through and come out the other side, if you’re made of the right stuff, it will really shine you up and that’s what it has done for him. He’s an explosive athlete. Can do a lot of different things, especially rushing the passer. He can play special teams. He’s a very, very committed guy as far as trying to work on his craft. He’s very experienced. When he came to Clemson, he was probably destined to leave in three years, but here he is six years later, and he is definitely the best version of himself. He is a guy that I think is going to be a fun guy to coach for their defensive coordinator because I don’t think people really know what they’re going to have in him. He’s unique in that he’s not your typical defensive end, but his speed and his strength and his ability to turn speed into power is something that’s going to serve him well in this next step in his journey.”
ON JEREMIAH TROTTER JR.
Head Coach Dabo Swinney: “From the day he showed up to Clemson, he was a pro. It was just a matter of him going through the process of putting his three years in and getting better. Everything he’s always done, you would think he was already a pro. He’s wise beyond his years. He’s mature beyond his years. And he’s just an elite player beyond his years. He was born to play linebacker. He’s a very, very high football IQ player and one of those guys that will have a chance to impact his team early. He’s got great instincts and great football IQ, and he can run and he can play special teams. He is a guy that, day one, when he shows up as a rookie, the other pros will think, ‘This guy has been in the league a while,’ because that’s how he carries himself. He won’t be overwhelmed. He’s well-prepared to not just go make their team but really shine.”
Defensive Coordinator/Linebackers Coach Wes Goodwin: “Jeremiah Trotter was born to play the linebacker position. He has the instincts, knowledge and athletic ability to be a tremendous pro. His drive, work ethic and determination will separate him from others and will also be great assets to his new organization and city. He was a pro from day one at Clemson and I can’t wait to see him dominate the next level.”
ON TYLER DAVIS:
Head Coach Dabo Swinney:“I’m super proud of Tyler. I think he is a guy that from the moment he showed up at Clemson, he’s acted like a pro, prepared like one, trained like one. He is the consummate ‘team guy’ and eventually he will be a captain. He is a player I would put in the same mold as Grady Jarrett. He is probably a guy that got downgraded because he doesn’t have some of the measurables from a size standpoint, but when he gets on the field, he will quickly separate from the others. That’s just who he is. That’s who he’s always been. I just really feel like he’s going to have a great NFL career. I’m super excited for the opportunity he’s earned and I can’t wait to watch him continue to be great.”
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