Clemson top offensive lineman entering NFL draft

Clemson coach Dabo Swinney said last week that several players he thought were turning pro are now going to stay at Clemson for one more season. Tigers offensive lineman Jordan McFadden revealed Tuesday that he is not one of those players who is coming back to school.

McFadden told reporters in Miami that Friday’s Orange Bowl will be his final game and he is entering the NFL draft.

“This is my last time with these guys, so for me, I’m just trying to take it all in,” McFadden said. “This will be it for me.”

The plan all along had been for Jordan McFadden to turn pro after this season, but he hinted on Twitter this month that he may consider returning to school instead.

However, McFadden confirmed Tuesday that he will stick with his original plan to enter the NFL draft.

“You kind of think about it — being at a place for so long, it gets hard to leave, being around such great people,” McFadden said. “I feel like it’s time for me to move on and I guess go try my chances in the pros and see what comes with that.”

McFadden was a three-year starter on the offensive line for the Tigers, spending time at both right tackle and left tackle.

He played left tackle this past season, starting every game.

The Dorman High product earned first-team All-ACC honors in 2022 and also earned the Jacobs Blocking Trophy, which is given to the top blocker in the ACC.

McFadden added that he has received an invite to the Shrine Bowl, but he is unsure if he will play in it as he has battled an injury for much of the season.

“We’re going to kind of see how I feel after this game and make a decision,” he said.

Whether he plays in the Shrine Bowl or not, this will be his last game at Clemson after an exceptional career.

He wants to go out with a win over Tennessee in a New Year’s Six game.

“We’re treating it like a playoff game,” McFadden said. “These are two great teams playing. At the end of the day, we came out here to win the game.”

Clemson will have a new starting quarterback for the Orange Bowl as McFadden and the Tigers offensive line will be blocking for Cade Klubnik.

The freshman is set to make his first career start after taking over for DJ Uiagalelei in the ACC championship game. Uiagalelei has since transferred to Oregon State.