COLUMBIA, S.C. (AP) — Clemson defensive end Kevin Dodd is entering the NFL draft, skipping his senior year.
Dodd announced his decision on Wednesday, releasing a statement through his agency, Element Sports Group. Dodd, who turns 24 in July, said he went home to talk with his family before making a final decision.
“I truly feel like I am physically and mentally ready for the next challenge,” he said.
Dodd, at 6-foot-5, 280 pounds, finished with 23.5 tackles for loss, second best nationally behind teammate Shaq Lawson’s 25.5. Dodd had 12 sacks this season — three of those coming in the Tigers 45-40 loss to Alabama in the national championship game Monday night — which was also second on the team behind Lawson, who is also entering the NFL draft.
Dodd’s departure means the Atlantic Coast Conference champions will have to replace both defensive ends for a second consecutive season. Dodd and Lawson were question marks entering the season as they took over for Vic Beasley, a 2015 first-round pick by the Atlanta Falcons, and Corey Crawford.
But Dodd and Lawson — the ACC defensive player of the year — quickly showed they could be just as disruptive for this year’s group. The pair had all five of Clemson’s sacks against Alabama and seven of its nine tackles behind the line of scrimmage.
Eligible underclassmen have until Jan. 18 to declare for the NFL draft
While Dodd announced he is going, Tigers running back Wayne Gallman said he is staying.
Gallman, a third-year sophomore, posted on Twitter on Wednesday that he would be coming back to Clemson for the 2016 season.
Gallman set the school’s single-season rushing mark with 1,527 yards and led the Tigers with 13 rushing touchdowns.
“One more year won’t be so bad,” Gallman posted on the social media site, adding the hashtag, “ALLIN.
Gallman took control of the running back spot at the end of last season and took his game do another level this fall. He had nine games with 100 yards or more, although he was held to 45 yards by Alabama.
