Clemson star defensive end Shaq Lawson has announced that he will forgo his senior season and will enter the 2016 NFL Draft, according to Fox 26 Sports' Mark Berman.
"I'm going to declare for the draft," said Lawson, via Fox 26 Sports. "It was a tough decision. I sat down with my family, sat down with the support staff at Clemson. I enjoyed being at Clemson, but it's time. I'm ready for the next level."
The 6-foot-3, 270 pound defensive end leads the country with 22.5 tackles for a loss this season, and he is expected to excel in a 4-3 defensive scheme, according to Chase Goodbread of College Football 24/7. Lawson creates havoc for opposing offenses and has 54 total tackles and 9.5 sacks this year.
The undefeated Tigers are the top-ranked team in the nation and face a tough test against a one of the hottest teams in college football, the Oklahoma Sooners. NFL scouts will be watching Lawson closely against the Sooners and will want to see how he performs against Sooners quarterback Baker Mayfield and Oklahoma's offense.
Lawson is seen as a late first round draft pick, and Walter Football's current mock draft has him going as the 19th pick to the Atlanta Falcons, who are clearly in need of a pass rush as they are last in the NFL in terms of team sacks in 2015. Lawson's draft stock can obviously go up and down between now and the 2016 Draft at the end of April, but how he plays in the College Football Playoff could have a huge impact on how teams view him.
Clemson's star defensive end is not done with his college career yet, as he is focused on their matchup against the Sooners on New Year's Eve and plans to take it one game at a time like the Tigers have done all year.
