While addressing the media at Saturday’s NFL Combine in Indianapolis, Mackensie Alexander gave his reason on why the loss of seven starters from the 2015 Clemson defense will not have a negative impact on the Tigers, who begin spring practice on Monday.
“We have a lot of mature men at Clemson. I don’t think we are going to recruit boys. You know what I mean? We are going to recruit men,” he said.
Alexander has a point. Clemson just inked its second straight top 5 class—a first in the program’s history—its third straight top 10 and its sixth straight top 15. In the last two years alone, the Tigers have signed seven five-star recruits, including defensive tackle Dexter Lawrence, linebacker Tre Lamar and linebacker Shaq Smith earlier this month. All three are already on campus and will be participating in spring drills.
“You have to recruit and we do a great job of that,” Alexander said. “We have a great coaching staff that knows what they are doing. We have played a lot of guys this year. For the three years I have been at Clemson, guys were young.
“We heard it all year long, ‘You don’t have this and you don’t have that.’ But we always came out and proved we were a top 10 defense for three years straight so it is a blessing. Coach (Brent Venables) really knows what he is doing. Our D-coordinator is a very intense guy and is really passionate about the game. He gets us corrected and makes sure we know what we are doing.”
Clemson’s defense was ranked seventh overall at the end of the 2013 season, finished No. 1 in 2014 and then 10th this past year. Last year’s Tigers lost nine starters from 2014’s top-ranked defense, but they remained in the top 10 nationally in total defense the entire season, which is why Alexander does not expect a drop of this coming year. He says guys are in place to make sure things stay the same.
“They recruit every year. They are ready. It is a big-time business. They’re going to be good,” the cornerback said. “They will be fine. We heard it from my two years on the field so I’m sure they are hearing it now. That’s going to motivate them, especially with what we do at Clemson. We get the kids, we work out and we push ourselves to know what we are doing on defense and stuff like that so it is big for us. They will be fine.
“We always preach and Coach (Dabo) Swinney always preaches. We are going to play Clemson fifteen times. That’s what we did this season and that’s what we will continue to keep doing. It does not stop just because guys left and talented guys left. It just picks up.”
Goodson is No. 1. The NFL.com is keeping a medal count—like the Olympics—this year to see which schools really performed well at the NFL Scouting Combine. Last year, the Web site reported Clemson and Oregon would have tied for first place based on what their former players did in the week-long event.
Clemson got its first gold medal on Saturday as linebacker B.J. Goodson led his position in the bench press with 30 reps of 225 pounds.
Defensive tackle D.J. Reader finished fifth with 30 reps as well in the bench press, which tied him for fifth place among defensive linemen.
Goodson and Reader will join defensive ends Kevin Dodd and Shaq Lawson in the on-field drills on Sunday at Lucas Oil Stadium.
Peake has good day. Coming into the combine, former Clemson wide receiver Charone Peake was moving up the draft boards after his performances at the Senior Bowl last month. Peake continued his upward climb by running a 4.45 in to 40, which tied for fifth at his position.
The former Clemson star also showed his ability of strength, speed and athleticism by performing in every drill on Saturday. He had a 35.5 inch vertical jump and a 10.2 broad jump. He completed the three-cone drill in 6.96 seconds, plus the 60-yard shuttle in 11.69.
Peake also displayed good hands and good route running ability in the other wide receiver drills.
Clemson’s last group arrives. Safeties Jayron Kearse and T.J. Green joined Alexander on Saturday as part of the last group of players who will participate in the NFL Scouting Combine. The defensive backs will work out on the field on Monday.
On Saturday, Kearse checked in at 6-foot-4. He weighs 216 pounds and has 34 ¼-inch arms. His hands measured in a 9 5/8 inches. Green checked in at 6-foot-2 and weighs 209 pounds, while he also has 9 5/8-hands. Green’s arms were measured at 32 inches.
Alexander, will not do any of the on-field drills as he continues to nurse his injured hamstring from the national championship game, is officially listed at 5-foot-10 and weighs 190 pounds with 31 3/8-inch arms. He also has hands that were measured at 9 1/8 inches.
Photo Credit: Trevor Ruszkowski-USA TODAY Sports
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