Two Former Clemson Tigers Ranked Among NFL’s Top 50 Players

Pro Football Focus has ranked the Top-50 players in the NFL and two former Clemson Tigers have made the cut.

At No. 17 is Arizona Cardinals wideout DeAndre “Nuk” Hopkins.

New team. New quarterback. Same old dominant performances from DeAndre Hopkins. His signature play was a phenomenal catch on a Hail Mary where he outjumped multiple defenders to come down with an improbable touchdown, but Hopkins was also the second-leading receiver in the league in terms of yardage and generated 2.25 yards per route run despite a very predictable alignment pattern and an average depth of target of just 9.0 yards.

PFF

At No. 42 is Atlanta Falcons defensive tackle Grady Jarrett.

Very few players have done more with less help than Falcons interior lineman Grady Jarrett. It’s not that Atlanta hasn’t tried to find him some complementary pieces along the defensive line; they just haven’t had much success when they have. Jarrett continues to dominate despite this. The now seventh-year defensive lineman has averaged over 50 total pressures over the past three seasons, earning a PFF pass-rushing grade above 80.0 in each year. He is a fantastic success story as a former fifth-round draft pick turned into one of the game’s best at a position that is currently stacked with elite talent.

PFF