Four Tigers listed as Top 20 NFL prospects

Joseph is a defensive gem from Belton, SC

by Tony Crumpton - Assoc. Editor - Tue Oct 03 13:24:24 GMT-04:00 2017

CBSSports.com released their latest 2018 NFL Draft Prospect rankings Tuesday and had four Clemson defenders on the Top 20 list with linebacker Kendall Joseph, defensive end Clelin Ferrell, linebacker Dorian O'Daniel, and defensive end Austin Bryant.

Twenty percent of the Top 20 players (4 out of 20) are currently from the defense of No. 2 ranked Clemson.

Joseph was ranked No. 9 prospect in the 2018 rankings and top linebacker in the class.

"Joseph had 10 tackles against Virginia Tech, which came after a 12-tackle effort against Boston College the week before," CBSSports.com said. "Also, he had a tackle for loss and a pass deflection in Blacksburg. Joseph is so darn twitchy and isn't complacent when offensive linemen try to block him."

Ferrell was ranked No. 12 prospect in the 2018 rankings and second-best defensive end behind only North Carolina State's Bradley Chubb.

"Ferrell's length is immediately noticeable when you flip on a Clemson game," Ferrell said. "And although he's not a supercharged speed rusher around the edge, he has quality burst and bend, and uses his hands well. Per Pro Football Focus, the 6-foot-5, 260-pound Ferrell has 17 quarterback pressures in five games, and five of those came against Virginia Tech."

O'Daniel was ranked No. 15 prospect in the 2018 rankings and third-best linebacker behind Oklahoma's Ogbonnia Okoronkwo and Joseph.

"O'Daniel had 10 tackles, one sack, one tackle for loss, and one interception returned for a touchdown against Virginia Tech," CBSSports.com said. "It was quite the evening for the Clemson linebacker. His acceleration was clear as day on the pick-six, and where he was lined up on that play says a lot about his game. I think NFL teams will be enamored with his versatility as an off-ball linebacker who has no problem aligning well outside the formation."

Bryant was ranked No.20 prospect in the 2018 rankings and four-best defensive end.

"Clemson's defensive line is unfair. And I think it's better than Alabama's," CBSSports.com said. "Yep, I wrote that. Bryant looks like a left defensive end in the NFL who'll mainly be asked to anchor against the run and take advantage of weaker right tackles on passing downs with a swift, strong bull rush."