Top 10 NFL players from Clemson in 2022
Whilst not having a reputation for being a hugely successful football program, Clemson has produced a lot of individual talent. Trevor Lawrence remains the most prodigious college star to ever emerge from the Clemson Tigers’ program. The university has a burgeoning reputation for quarterback development.
A haul of just three national championships is nothing to really write home about, although notably the two most recent titles came in 2016 and 2018. This shows a really strong program at the moment, and one which is growing into a far more reputable position within the NCAA.
There are currently 39 Clemson alumni playing in the NFL, with the real success stories of the group coming on offense. Below, we will take a deeper look at the top 10 NFL players from Clemson who are plying their trade in the league in 2022.
#1. DeAndre Hopkins, WR, Arizona Cardinals
DeAndre Hopkins is one of the best wide receivers in the NFL. After being drafted by the Houston Texans, he was a prolific catcher, racking up 8,602 yards and 54 touchdowns in 110 starts.
Throughout his NFL career, the former Tigers WR has easily been one of the top 10 NFL players from Clemson. He has recorded 10,581 receiving yards and 68 touchdowns. His 770 successful receptions set an NFL record for the most catches by a player recorded before age 30.
Despite being a five-time Pro Bowler and being selected to five All-Pro teams, a bizarre trade saw him move to Arizona in 2020. Here he continued his incredible form. In his first season with the Cardinals, he recorded 1,407 receiving yards and six touchdowns.
His second season in the desert was a lot less productive. Hopkins was banned for the first six games of the 2022 campaign due to a violation of the league’s performance-enhancing substances policy.
#2. Deshaun Watson, QB, Cleveland Browns
Deshaun Watson hasn’t played a single snap in the NFL since the 2020 season. Off-field incidents have damaged his reputation and led to an NFL suspension, but his football qualities are beyond reproach. Whether that is important in the grand scheme of things is another matter. It’s simply impossible to have a top 10 NFL Clemson player list without Watson.
His last full season came in the 2020 campaign, where he led the league in passing yards with 4,823. He was the best QB in the NFL that season and one of the biggest stars in sports. A dynamic runner with the ball in his hands, as well as a polished passer, Watson is one of the very best to come out of Clemson. He is being painted as the savior for the Cleveland Browns, who showed their faith in him this offseason. They signed him to a fully-guaranteed, five-year, $230 million contract.