Clemson’s Vic Beasley will be one of the first edge rushers taken in this year’s NFL draft. (AP photo)
Clemson had the No. 1 defense in the country last fall, allowing just 260.8 yards a game.
Judging by what happened at the NFL’s Combine this weekend, it’s easy to see why.
Defensive end Vic Beasley (who is from Adairsville) wowed scouts with his combination of speed and strength, cementing the fact that he'll go in the first round of May's NFL Draft. He was measured at 6 foot 3, 246 pounds.
“From his sizzling 4.53-second time in the 40-yard dash to his terrific measurements in the jumps (41-inch vertical, 130-inch broad) to his remarkable shuttle times (6.91 three-cone drill, 4.15 20-yard shuttle), Beasley showed scouts that he is one of the premier athletes available in this draft,” the article stated.
And if Bealsey's performance didn't wow scouts enough, former teammate Stephone Anthony, a first-team All-ACC linebacker last fall, ran a 4.56 in the 40-yard dash, the third best time among linebackers.
The linebackers’ top performances.
Defensive tackle Grady Jarrett (Rockdale County) also tested well.
Kentucky’s Alvin “Bud” Dupree, who played all over the field defensively for the Wildcats, and who also is from Georgia (Wilkinson County), was almost as impressive as Beasley.
"Dupree (6-foot-4, 269 pounds) turned in a blazing 4.56 official time in the 40, including an unofficial 1.60-second 10-yard split. He also blew away observers with a broad jump of 11 feet, 5 inches, and a 42-inch vertical jump," NFL.com wrote. " 'He shows an incredible lower-body explosion,' NFL Media analyst Mike Mayock said during the NFL Network's telecast of the combine."
