CHICAGO – Several Clemson football players were selected in the second round of the NFL Draft on Friday night.
The Tennessee Titans have selected Clemson linebacker Kevin Dodd with the 33rd pick overall, giving coordinator Dick LeBeau another piece for his improving defense.
The Titans made the selection Friday night with their first of three picks in the second round.
Tennessee improved as a defense last season with LeBeau working with then-coordinator Ray Horton. The Titans ranked 12th in yards allowed but just 27th in points given up. Horton left for Cleveland, and LeBeau now is running the defense.
Dodd played defensive end at Clemson, but the Titans see him as outside linebacker in LeBeau’s 3-4 scheme.
The 6-foot-5, 277-pound Dodd had 12 sacks and 26 ½ tackles for loss in his career.
The Titans selected Michigan State offensive lineman Jack Conklin in the first round on Thursday.
The Colts decided to get younger in their secondary by selecting safety T.J. Green with the No. 57 overall pick in the second round of the NFL draft Friday night.
The 6-foot-2, 210-pound Clemson defensive back was a former wide receiver who switched to the defensive side of the ball. Green surprised scouts at the NFL combine with a 4.34 second 40-yard dash. Veteran safety Mike Adams is entering the final year of his contract with Indianapolis.
Green recorded 95 tackles and one interception in 2015. Green started all 15 games in 2015 and 10 games in 2014 for the Tigers.
On Thursday night, the Colts took the first step in fulfilling their needs on the offensive line when they took Alabama center Ryan Kelly.
The Colts traded their second round pick, 48th overall, to the Packers for their second round pick and nabbed a fourth and seventh round pick from Green Bay in the deal.
The Minnesota Vikings have drafted Clemson defensive back Mackensie Alexander with the 54th overall pick in the second round on Friday.
The 5-foot-10 Alexander played cornerback at Clemson. He comes to a team coached by Mike Zimmer, who has long had a reputation for developing cornerbacks. He left school after his redshirt sophomore season in which he helped the Tigers reach the national championship game.
He had eight tackles for loss and six pass breakups last season.
Alexander joins Ole Miss receiver Laquon Treadwell in the Vikings rookie draft class. Treadwell was the 23rd overall pick in the first round on Thursday.
The Vikings also had the 86th overall draft choice in the third round on Friday night.
