Travis Etienne – Noteworthy
Clemson finished No. 1 in The Associated Press poll for the third time after routing Alabama in the national championship game. The Tigers received all 61 first-place votes. The Crimson Tide, which was trying to become just the third team to go wire-to-wire as the No. 1 team in the country, finished second. Clemson beat Alabama 44-16 in the College Football Playoff national championship Monday night. Clemson also finished No. 1 in 2016 and 1981. The Tide did extend its streak of top-five appearances to 54 weeks, one short of Miami’s record set from Oct. 8, 2000-Oct. 26, 2003. Ohio State finished third. Oklahoma, which lost to Alabama in the Orange Bowl semifinal, was fourth. Notre Dame, which lost to Clemson in the Cotton Bowl semifinal, was fifth. LSU was sixth and Southeastern Conference rivals Florida and Georgia were tied for seventh. Texas was ninth, its best final ranking since 2009 when the Longhorns finished second after losing to Alabama in the BCS championship game. – AP College Football
Trevor Lawrence – Noteworthy
Trevor Lawrence passed for 347 yards and three touchdowns and No. 2 Clemson rolled No. 1 Alabama 44-16 on Monday night in the College Football Playoff national championship game. In the fourth consecutive playoff meeting between the Tigers and Tide, Clemson evened the series and beat ‘Bama for the national title for the second time in three seasons. Clemson is the first team in the AP poll era, dating back to 1936, to finish 15-0. Coach Nick Saban and the Tide (14-1) were looking for a sixth national championship in 10 years, trying to add to an already unprecedented run in the sport. Instead, Clemson crushed Alabama, becoming the first opponent to beat the Tide by more than 14 points since Saban became coach in 2007. – AP College Football
*Dexter Lawrence – Noteworthy
Suspended Clemson defensive tackle Dexter Lawrence is headed to the NFL. Lawrence is the 350-pound, 6-foot-4 lineman who missed the Tigers’ College Football Playoff games after he and two teammates tested positive for the banned substance ostarine. Lawrence attended both games and celebrated with teammates Monday night after a 44-16 victory over Alabama in the national championship game. Lawrence announced his decision on Twitter Wednesday. He was a three-year starter and is considered a first-round NFL pick in next spring’s draft. He is the third Clemson starter on defense to give up his eligibility to go pro. Earlier, cornerback Trayvon Mullen and linebacker Tre Lamar said they would enter the NFL draft. Mullen was the defensive MVP of the championship game. – AP College Football
*Trayvon Mullen – Noteworthy
Clemson cornerback Trayvon Mullen and linebacker Tre Lamar are going out on top. The two defensive stars announced Wednesday afternoon that they are turning pro after their junior seasons and entering the NFL draft. Mullen was named the Defensive MVP of the national title game after he recorded an interception and a sack in Clemson’s 44-16 victory against Alabama. He finished his junior season with 36 tackles, four tackles for loss, two sacks and an interception. He also had three pass breakups and forced a fumble. “I want to thank the Clemson family for the experience I’ve gained and the opportunity to play on this team for the past three years. This school and program have helped me become a better person on and off the field,” Mullen said as part of a statement. “It was a tough decision, but I left it in God’s hands. I am ready to move on to the next chapter in life. I have decided to forgo my senior year and declare for the NFL draft.” – Matt Connolly, The State
Tre Lamar – Noteworthy
Clemson cornerback Trayvon Mullen is headed to the NFL draft. Mullen and fellow Tigers starter linebacker Tre Lamar announced their intentions Wednesday to forego their senior seasons to turn pro. The two are the first of what’s expected to be several defensive starters who will leave the school for the NFL draft. Lamar is a 6-4, 255-pound junior who was third on Clemson with 80 tackles. Several other Clemson players, including defensive end Clelin Ferrell and defensive tackle Dexter Lawrence, have not announced whether they will turn pro. Players have until Monday to decide. – AP College Football
*Clelin Ferrell – Noteworthy
Clemson’s national championship front four is off to the NFL. All-American defensive end Clelin Ferrell made it a clean sweep of top-round prospects, joining All-American tackle Christian Wilkins, tackle Dexter Lawrence and end Austin Bryant in heading to the draft. Ferrell, Wilkins and Bryant all passed on the pros last season for a final year in college. And the group made it count with a 15-0 season and a 44-16 beatdown of Alabama in the national title game Monday night. Wilkins and Bryant were seniors this year while the suspended Lawrence, who missed Clemson’s two College Football Playoff games after testing positive for a banned substance, declared his intention to leave Wednesday.
Ferrell is a 6-foot-4, 265-pound defender who is generally considered a top-10 NFL prospect and the first Tiger expected to be taken next spring. Ferrell said Monday night when asked about his future how difficult it would be to leave Clemson, where he has helped the team win two national crowns in the past three seasons. “Understand how hard it is for write a letter like this,” Ferrell said in announcing his choice. “Because it means the coming to an end of a truly life-changing experience.” Clemson will have to replace at least seven starters on defense next season. Along with its four linemen, cornerback Trayvon Mullen and linebacker Tre Lamar gave up their final college season to turn pro. Linebacker Kendall Joseph was a senior starter. The group helped Clemson lead the country in sacks and was dominant up front in the Tigers’ win over Alabama. – AP College Football