Lawson selected #19 overall in 2016 NFL Draft |
Former Clemson defensive end
Shaq Lawson was drafted #19 overall by the Buffalo Bills during the first round of the 2016 NFL Draft on Thursday night. He is now the fifth Tiger to be part of the Bill organization in the last six years.
Lawson finished this past season with 86 tackles, 25.5 tackles for loss (led the nation), 12.5 sacks and 15 quarterback hurries. "This day right here has been five years since my dad was killed in a car accident," Lawson said to ESPN moments after being picked. "So this day is special for me. I've overcome a lot. I'm so happy right now." Lawson was especially excited to be be picked by fellow Clemson fan and Buffalo Bills head coach Rex Ryan. "I'm heading to Buffalo and heading to Rex Ryan and he is ALL-IN like we do at Clemson so it doesn't feel like I am going anywhere but another step in Buffalo." "The shoulder was the concern," Mel Kiper said after Lawson's selection. "He was the 12th best player on my board. He waited patiently to become the guy. Vic Beasley moved on. You hope he is better than Vic Beasley, who is a disappointment with the Falcons. Shaq Lawson this past year was a dynamic outside pass rusher. He played with his hand on the ground. He played standing up. What I loved about him was his great eye discipline finding the football and the fact he played through injury. He had that knee injury against Oklahoma, tried to play against Alabama and had two sacks in that game. So I like the versatility. I like the effort." "I thought Lawson played at too much of a weight," ESPN's Jon Gruden said moments after Lawson's selection. "He played at about 280. I think he needs to get down to 265, 260. I thought he ran out of stamina late in games. Look I like the player but I think he is going to have to learn to play on two feet which he did at Clemson, but he is going have to convert to an outside linebacker, pick up his stamina, and prove that he can whip some of the good tackles in the NFL." He was named a consensus first-team All-American and was a finalist for the Hendricks Award, the Bednarik Award, and the Lombardi Award and the fourth player since 2011 to go from Daniel High School to Clemson to the NFL. This makes the fourth straight year that Clemson has had a player drafted in the first round of the NFL Draft. With the 19th pick in the 2016 #NFLDraft, the Bills select Shaq Lawson! Shaq Lawson is all in on his Buffalo Bills, baby. ? pic.twitter.com/FyNQlmDqjP "Buffalo feels like home to me." pic.twitter.com/FDbMUdLXT4 All the feels. ? #BillsDraft pic.twitter.com/Cu7b8yvBn5 The next Chicago Bear? Clemson's Shaq Lawson makes his way to the red carpet. #NFLDraft2016 pic.twitter.com/dm6KN4ENWP Yep, our defense got better today. ?? #ALLIN pic.twitter.com/NMJR9D6aM8 We are family. #BillsRunDeep pic.twitter.com/YErZjN9iTB That first NFL paycheck? Congrats @Shaq_Lawson90 we are all so proud of you!! Great player but an even better person. You know the @buffalobills love Clemson Tigers!!!! #NFLDraft2016 ???????? Shaq law!!! Congrats my guy! @Shaq_Lawson90 pic.twitter.com/UxmVqCvkvn Congratulations to my brother @Shaq_Lawson90! #AllIn We got my boy what a blessing @Shaq_Lawson90 Congrats Fam @Shaq_Lawson90 see you Week 10 Another hometown product @Shaq_Lawson90, let's get it! Congrats to my bro @Shaq_Lawson90 know what time it is now. Eat it up bro BIG LAW!!!! @Shaq_Lawson90 ?????? Congrats Shaq??. Go get it boy. #ClemsonNFL
Welcome to the family. #BillsRunDeep pic.twitter.com/tghDA3MMHC
Mom gets a new house.
That's @Shaq_Lawson90's best tribute to his dad. #NFLDraft https://t.co/xF8AyO5v39
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