Clemson CB ‘Played His Way’ Into Senior Bowl

Mario Goodrich quietly had a very productive final season at Clemson.

It was a season that saw him earn first-team All ACC honors, as well as being named a third-team All-American by PFF.

Goodrich is set to take part in the Senior Bowl and Reese’s Senior Bowl Executive Director Jim Nagy recently said on the Gramlich and Mac Lain Podcast that the cornerback played his way into an invite with his effort in 2021.

“He will continue to rise up draft boards, I’m pretty certain, beacuse he did for us this year,” Nagy said. “Mario is a guy that, starting the year, he would have not gotten a Senior Bowl invite. He really played his way into the game.”

IT’S SENIOR BOWL WEEK!!! And we’ve got a big one to get you ready for jam packed coverage! @JimNagy_SB joins @kellygramlich and I as we discuss each and every @ACCFootball athlete that will be at the @seniorbowl! LET’S GO!!! https://t.co/BbU3UaGXfS

— Eric Mac Lain (@EricMacLain) January 31, 2022

Goodrich finished his Clemson career credited with 84 tackles (0.5 for loss), 15 pass breakups, five interceptions, a forced fumble and a fumble recovery in 1,116 snaps over 47 games (16 starts). He concluded his career as MVP of the 2021 Cheez-It Bowl in the Tigers win over Iowa State.

“He’s a big, long corner,” Nagy said. “Dabo (Swinney) hasn’t been shy to talk about Mario’s progression out there at Clemson. It didn’t click for him right away. You give the kid a lot of credit for that, he did stick around. He didn’t jump in the portal. He stuck it out at Clemson.”

“But he’s got all the tools. He’s a long, easy-moving guy. He’s an efficient mover, which isn’t normal for a guy his size and he showed playmaking ability this year, especially in that Cheez-It Bowl. I mean, those were huge turnovers that he played a part in to win that game. Big for him. I think he’s a guy that just keeps doing that through the process.”