McDaniel: Likely to return with a 2nd-round grade
A quick update on the near futures of the Clemson underclassmen eligible for the NFL Draft – namely junior safety DeAndre McDaniel.
McDaniel told me Tuesday he is “leaning” toward returning if he receives a second-round projection from the NFL’s underclassmen advisory committee.
“A first round grade, it would probably be crazy for me not to go (pro),” McDaniel said. “But second round or anything else, I’m probably coming back.”
I’ve heard a number of players filled out the paperwork to receive a projection – including McDaniel, junior left tackle Chris Hairston and junior defensive tackle Jarvis Jenkins.
Players are expected to hear back from the committee in about two weeks. The deadline for underclassmen to declare for the April draft is Jan. 15.
McDaniel, though, is the only one who’s believed to be giving any real consideration toward leaving. But from what I’ve been told, all signs indeed currently point to his return.
McDaniel said he would almost have to turn pro if given a first-round grade, but that scenario appears unlikely.
A second-round grade is much more feasible, if not realistic. But the sense I got is McDaniel thinks he can do as Tennessee safety Eric Berry did this past season – let his increased profile boost his NFL stock.
Berry’s play arguably wasn’t any better this year than last, but in putting himself on the map last season, he carried a substantially higher profile into the season. Thus he has been considered a top-10 lock throughout the year when his potential is no greater than a year ago, when he was at best a mid- to late-1st-rounder.
These situations are always subject to change, because there’s no predicting who or what could influence McDaniel or his family the next month.
2 Comments to “McDaniel: Likely to return with a 2nd-round grade”
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Clemson Beat writer Paul Strelow blogs about Clemson University athletics.
Linebacker issues aside,my only wish for 2010 is that our secondary, specifically McDaniel,focuses on locking up, using their hips, and putting the ball carrier on the ground. All the attempted ball stripping, blowing up people with their shoulders has done nothing but generate additional yards after contact for our opponents. I’d give anything to have another Jamaal Fudge back there.
Yeah, thats a good point Todd. What really sucks about McDaniel is, if he leaves, then the year when he would have likely played his best ball and eliminated most of his mistakes, next year, we dont get to have. He hasnt played alot of mistake free ball yet. You bring a guy like this in, and just when you are on the verge of maximizing his production, he bounces. It will be the same next year w/ Bowers….