Report: Injury update on former Clemson cornerback Andrew Booth

Andrew Booth is a potential first-round pick in the NFL Draft. But his draft journey took a new turn on Wednesday.

The former Clemson cornerback had surgery on a sports hernia, according to ESPN’s Adam Schefter. However, it sounds like he could still be ready for training camp after he recovers.

Schefter’s report comes after Booth told NFL Network he was having “core muscle surgery.” He didn’t participate in the NFL Scouting Combine or Clemson’s Pro Day as he battled the injury.

In 2021, Booth had 37 tackles, 3.0 tackles for loss, five pass breakups and a team-high three interceptions. That built off a strong 2020 campaign when he had 27 tackles, four pass breakups and two interceptions for Clemson. His name hasn’t come up in either Todd McShay or Mel Kiper Jr.’s mock drafts at ESPN, but CBS Sports’ Ryan Wilson projected Booth to go No. 28 overall to the Green Bay Packers on March 8.

Clemson went 10-3 last season and defeated Iowa State in the Cheez-It Bowl on Dec. 29.

More on Andrew Booth’s NFL hopes amid injury

Booth, a 6-foot, 200-pound cornerback, is a top-five prospect at his position following the senior bowl, according to Todd McShay. The junior from Atlanta is expected to be a first-round pick after earning first-team All-ACC honors this past season. He’s one of four Tigers that got invites to the combine, joining corner Mario Goodrich, receiver Justyn Ross and linebacker Baylon Spector.

The Georgia native had 39 tackles, three tackles for loss, five pass breakups and three interceptions while starting all 11 games he played in. He declared for the draft early, after just three seasons with Clemson.

In the 2020 season, Booth had 27 tackles (22 solo), a sack, a fumble recovery, two interceptions and four pass breakups. He had limited playing time as a freshman but recorded four tackles.

In CBS Sports’ latest mock draft, Andrew Booth is the fourth cornerback off of the board, with the Las Vegas Raiders’ No. 22 pick. LSU’s Derek Stingley Jr., Cincinnati’s Ahmad Gardner and Washington’s Trent McDuffie are the three corners trending higher than Booth ahead of the combine. In Todd McShay’s mock draft 2.0, Booth heads to the Buffalo Bills at No. 25 overall.

On3’s Nikki Chavanelle contributed to this report.