5 college teams most hurt by the 2017 NFL Draft
By John Buhler
Clemson Tigers
ACC, Atlantic
All is well down in Clemson after the Tigers won the 2016 National Championship, their second in school history and the first since 1981. Dabo Swinney has emerged as arguably the best coach in college football not named Urban Meyer or Nick Saban, as he officially has his Clemson program as a national power.
That being said, do not expect Clemson to win the national title in 2017. The Tigers may not even get to the ACC Championship Game next fall. They do play in a tough ACC Atlantic Division with teams like the Florida State Seminoles and the Louisville Cardinals. Clemson is also losing 10 players that will be taken in the 2017 NFL Draft.
The Tigers could have as many as four players taken in the first round: cornerback Cordrea Tankersley, defensive tackle Carlos Watkins, quarterback Deshaun Watson and wide receiver Mike Williams. Players like running back Wayne Gallman, tight end Jordan Leggett and wide receiver Artavis Scott project as day two selections.
Swinney has recruited well, but will have to claw tooth and nail to get Clemson to 10 wins in 2017. Losing so many great players from this national championship team and an increasingly tough schedule will knock Clemson down a peg. Of the four teams that made the College Football Playoff in 2016, Clemson is the one most likely to miss out on it next season.