Buffalo Bills select Clemson linebacker Baylon Spector in 2022 NFL Draft

Former Clemson linebacker Baylon Spector is taking his game to the next level, as he was selected No. 231 overall by the Buffalo Bills in the seventh round of the 2022 NFL Draft on Saturday.

Spector, a former On3 Consensus three-star recruit coming out of the Class of 2017, put together a successful collegiate career for the Tigers – totaling 191 tackles over four seasons with the program. Spector had a strong season in 2021, as he made 74 tackles, 2.5 sacks and an interception.

A 6-foot-2, 235-pound defender, Spector was ranked as the No. 74 linebacker in the country in the 2017 recruiting class coming out of Calhoun (Ga.) High School. He held scholarship offers from a number programs – including Duke, Georgia Southern and Wake Forest – before choosing to play at Clemson.

Looking at his stats from last season, Spector tallied 19 tackles in a loss to NC State on Sept. 25 and put up 10 tackles in a win over Syracuse on Oct. 15. He heads to the Bills after playing in 40 career games at Clemson, which makes him a linebacker with plenty of experience.

What NFL draft analysts are saying about Baylon Spector

NFL.com’s Lance Zierlein broke down what Spector can bring to the NFL in his recent scout of the linebacker’s draft profile.

“Reliable worker-bee linebacker who plays with impressive instincts and fundamentals that keep him in position and near the action,” Zierlein said. “Spector is an average athlete with average size, but he struggles to attack and unglue from blocks on a consistent enough basis. He’s an excellent finisher when facing down runners in the hole, but average length and agility drop his finishing rate substantially when he’s forced to tackle on the move.

“Spector is rock solid, but won’t make plays beyond what is expected. He has backup value as an inside linebacker or 4-3 Will.”