The second of three Clemson products selected in the 2025 NFL Draft was R.J. Mickens.

The Los Angeles Chargers took Mickens on Day 3 of the Draft, grabbing him in the sixth round with the No. 214 overall pick.

After Mickens came off the board, ESPN draft analyst Matt Miller discussed what the Chargers are getting in the standout safety who started half of the 60 games he played in for the Tigers from 2020-24.

“30-game starter who ran a 4.49 (40-yard dash) at the NFL Scouting Combine at 6-foot, right at 199 pounds,” Miller said during ESPN’s coverage of the Draft. “Solidly built. He has the height/weight speed that we’re looking for.

“What I love about him – put up coverage every year at Clemson. He reads the quarterback’s eyes exceptionally well. I think there were times where he sees it on time, but he’s held up a little bit in his transition due to some hip stiffness, some heavy footwork at times. But hey, he has been battle-tested over the past three years as a starter.”

An NFL legacy, Mickens recorded 229 tackles (13.5 for loss), seven interceptions, 15 pass breakups and a fumble recovery in his Clemson career.

Mickens, who became the 10th player in Clemson history to play 60 career games, earned a third-team all-conference nod from Phil Steele in 2021 and was a third-team All-ACC selection by Pro Football Focus in 2022.

Mickens earned fourth-team All-ACC recognition from Steele this past season, when he finished third on the team with a career-high 85 tackles (including a career-high 6.0 for loss) while adding seven pass breakups and two interceptions over 13 games (all starts).

Miller says Mickens is capable of manning multiple spots on defense for the Chargers.

“He’s versatile enough to play at free safety, we could see him play some nickel alignments and even down in the box at times on first and second downs,” Miller said. “So, what he did this past year – 85 tackles, two interceptions for a Clemson defense that really turned things around and advanced to the College Football Playoff this year. Now, Texas got him, fourth-and-13, but R.J. Mickens has had a heck of a career at Clemson.”

Mickens became the 11th Clemson player selected by the Chargers in an NFL Draft, joining a list of players that most recently includes wide receiver Mike Williams (2017) and Mickens’ former Clemson teammate, offensive lineman Jordan McFadden (2023).

Mickens became the 19th defensive back and the eighth safety drafted in Dabo Swinney’s head coaching tenure. With Mickens’ selection, the Tigers have had at least one defensive back selected in 13 of Clemson’s 17 drafts in the Swinney era.

Mickens’ selection marked the second straight draft in which an NFL legacy has been selected from Clemson’s defense. Mickens’ father, Ray, played 11 NFL seasons for the New York Jets, Cleveland Browns and New England Patriots. Last year, the Philadelphia Eagles selected Clemson’s Jeremiah Trotter Jr., the son of former Pro Bowler Jeremiah Trotter Sr.