Clemson Football: Shaq Lawson declares for 2016 NFL Draft

Clemson Tigers defensive end Shaq Lawson is leaving school early and is declaring for the NFL Draft.

The biggest question facing Clemson this year beyond the health of quarterback and Heisman finalist Deshaun Watson was how the Tigers defense would look after losing so many players to graduation and the NFL Draft last year.

Well, it looked pretty outstanding, finishing the season ranked 18th in scoring defense, No. 7 in total defense, No. 5 in pass defense and they had the second best third down defense in the country and the primary reason for that was the breakout year from defensive end Shaq Lawson.

Lawson had 9.5 sacks and led the nation with 22.5 tackles for loss as he dominated in the run game as well as the pass game and that season was enough for him to leave Clemson early and enter the NFL Draft.

“I’m going to declare for the draft,” Lawson told Mark Berman of Fox 26, adding that “it was a tough decision.”

“I sat down with my family, sat down with the support staff at Clemson. I enjoyed being at Clemson, but it’s time. I’m ready for the next level.”

The 6-2, 270-pound Lawson projects as a first round pick with ESPN’s Mel Kiper Jr. ranking Lawson as the No. 4 draft-eligible defensive end and ranks him No. 20 on his big board. Meanwhile, Kiper’s colleague, Todd McShay ranks Lawson at No. 16 on his list of top 32 draft-eligible prospects.

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When you’re projected to be a mid-first round pick, it’s expected you’ll declare for the NFL Draft, and Clemson knew this would be coming with the type of season he had this year.