Three Tigers listed in NFL Defensive ROY race |
Sporting News has released its
latest breakdown of the 2015 NFL defensive rookie of the year race for the upcoming football season.
Three Tigers were included in the projections - DE/OLB Vic Beasley, DT Grady Jarrett and LB Stephone Anthony. In the top tier group called 'Favorites', former Clemson defensive end Vic Beasley is listed alongside S Landon Collins, OLB Randy Gregory, DE/OLB Shane Ray and DT/DE Leonard Williams. "Beasley (21.5 tackles for loss, 12.0 sacks last season) immediately upon his selection became Atlanta's go-to edge rusher," Sporting News said. "The Falcons will do whatever they can to turn Beasley loose against the pass." Jaguar's rookie defensive end Dante Fowler (#3 overall selection) would have probably been included in this group but torn his ACL in the team's first practice. In the group called 'The Sleepers', former Clemson defensive tackle Grady Jarrett is listed alongside nine other prospects. Jarrett had 207 tackles, 29.5 tackles for loss, 5.5 sacks, 37 quarterback pressures, one pass break up, two caused fumbles and four recovered fumbles in his career. Jarrett had a career high three and a half tackles for loss and a forced fumble in the 40-6 rout of Oklahoma in the Russell Athletic Bowl. He also was voted as one of the football team's permanent captains for 2014. As a senior, he had 73 tackles and 12 quarterback pressures. Finally in the group called 'The Long Shots', former Clemson linebacker Stephone Anthony is listed with five other rookies. Anthony had 206 tackles, 24 tackles for loss and 6.5 sacks in his final two years at Clemson as he led the Tigers in tackles those years. As a senior, he had 90 tackles, 10.5 tackles for loss and was a first-team All-ACC performer. 
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