Clemson Tigers On Kansas City Chiefs
Clemson is represented well in the world’s biggest game, as four former Tigers will play in Super Bowl LV. Punter Bradley Pinion will represent Clemson for the Buccaneers, while former cornerback Bashaud Breeland, linebacker Dorian O’Daniel and wide receiver Sammy Watkins will represent the Tigers on the Chiefs’ sideline. With Kansas City's win over Buffalo in the AFC Championship Game, a trio of former Clemson Tigers will be attempting to win a second straight Super Bowl. Which one ends up heading to Kansas City will largely depend on who falls to the franchise toward the end of the first round. Kansas City Chiefs targets in 2021 NFL Draft. Cornerback, Tigers. The Tigers took on ACC rival Florida State in week 3 of their season only to suffer a loss in overtime as No. 22 Clemson lost to No. 1 Florida State 17–23. The Tigers then claimed a six-game winning streak in the middle of their season but lost to Georgia Tech as star freshman quarterback Deshaun Watson went out with a knee injury early in.
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The Chiefs head into the playoffs as serious Super Bowl contenders, but they still need to add talent in next year's NFL Draft.
Chiefs fans should keep their eyes on the following three prospects during the pre-draft process. Each one should draw serious interest from their favorite team. Which one ends up heading to Kansas City will largely depend on who falls to the franchise toward the end of the first round.
Kansas City Chiefs targets in 2021 NFL Draft
Asante Samuel
Cornerback, Seminoles
Samuel may never become the star that his father was during his NFL career, but he does project to be a solid starter in the league for a long time. That would equal great value for the Chiefs at this late juncture in Round 1.
Samuel's college tape reveals him to be an excellent corner in man-to-man situations. He doesn't have elite ball skills, but he's in a position to make a play on a high percentage of snaps. His tape shades more towards very good than great, but that's true for almost any prospect available at this spot in the draft.
Kansas City would be a great landing spot for Samuel because they wouldn't be forced to install him as a starter immediately. Instead, he could learn the ropes of professional football while playing a lot of nickel. The Chiefs' high scoring offense means they always need quality defensive backs. Adding Samuel would be a solid step forward for Andy Reid's secondary.
Clemson Tigers On Kansas City Chiefs Game Time
Deonte Brown
Guard, Crimson Tide
The Chiefs offense might produce a ton of highlight plays with their skill and flair at the skill positions, but that doesn't mean Kansas City couldn't benefit from adding a brute to their offensive line. Whatever Brown lacks in terms of being a tactician, he more than makes up for with his raw strength and size from the guard position.
Brown is not a lock to be selected in Round 1, but it's equally as likely that he'll shoot up draft boards when offensive line coaches dive into his tape. He flashes the ability to move elite defensive lineman out of his path with relative ease. That makes him a terrific asset for Alabama's run game when they're trying to establish supremacy at the line of scrimmage.
In fairness, Brown's pass blocking skills are far less refined. He's going to need serious coaching at the next level to improve that aspect of his game. That's why landing with a team like the Chiefs would be so beneficial for his career. They don't need him to start right away. If Brown is coached up in the right fashion he could blossom into a perennial Pro Bowler down the line.
Offensive guard isn't the sexiest position to address in the first round, but Reid understands the value of selecting guys who can help his team win in the trenches. That's why Brown could easily land in Kansas City with the last selection of Round 1.
Derion Kendrick
Cornerback, Tigers
Like many of his teammates, Kendrick had his flaws exposed by Ohio State in this year's National Semifinal game. That shouldn't significantly damage his draft stock. Teams interested in nabbing the Clemson cornerback need to realize that he only moved to the defensive side of the ball in 2019.
He arrived in college expecting to play wide receiver. The good news is that Kendrick still flashes really good ball skills stemming from his time on the offensive side of the ball. The flaws in his game are largely technique related and should be corrected with strong coaching at the next level.
Kendrick checks in at a legitimate 6-feet, 190 pounds. That gives him the size to match up against No. 1 wide receivers once his technique catches up with his raw athleticism. Kansas City might have to wait to reap the benefits of landing him in Round 1, but it's just the sort of luxury pick the Chiefs can afford to make.
It's possible Kendrick won't last all the way to No. 32. Playoff teams willing to give him the time to develop could see him as a potential No. 1 corner. Landing that kind of talent outside the top-10 is a real coup for any front office. The Chiefs should be ready to stop his slide if he falls to them on Draft Day.
Clemson is guaranteed to have a Super Bowl Champion from the 2020 football season.
On Sunday, the Tampa Bay Buccaneers and the Kansas City Chiefs punched their tickets to Super Bowl LV in Tampa. The Bucs took down the Green Bay Packers in the NFC Championship Game, while the Kansas City Chiefs won the AFC Championship to advance the Super Bowl for a second straight year with a victory over the Buffalo Bills.
Clemson is represented well in the world’s biggest game, as four former Tigers will play in Super Bowl LV. Punter Bradley Pinion will represent Clemson for the Buccaneers, while former cornerback Bashaud Breeland, linebacker Dorian O’Daniel and wide receiver Sammy Watkins will represent the Tigers on the Chiefs’ sideline.
Clemson Tigers On Kansas City Chiefs
Of course, this will be the second straight year Breeland, O’Daniel and Watkins will be in the Super Bowl. They, of course, helped the Chiefs win Super Bowl LIV over San Francisco last year.
This will be the first Super Bowl appearance for Pinion.
If the Chiefs win the Super Bowl on Feb. 7, it will mark the first time in 22 seasons a former Clemson player has won back-to-back Super Bowl titles. Former defensive tackle Trevor Pryce won back-to-back Super Bowls with the Denver Broncos in Super Bowls XXXII and XXXIII. He is also the last Tiger to win multiple Super Bowl titles.
The late Bennie Cunningham (Pittsburgh Steelers), Terrence Flagler (San Francisco 49ers) and Pryce are the only former Tigers to win back-to-back Super Bowls. Flagler won two Super Bowls (XXIII and XXIV) as a member of the 49ers, while Cunningham helped the Steelers win Super Bowls XIII and XIV.
Over the years, 30 former Clemson Tigers have been on at least one Super Bowl Championship Team.
There was a stretch for six consecutive seasons from 1984-’89 when at least one former Tiger earned a Super Bowl ring. There was also a stretch from 1996-2000 that at least one Tiger won a Super Bowl every year.
The 1987 Washington Redskins had the most Clemson players on one team to earn a Super Bowl ring. Kicker Obed Ariri, center Jeff Bostic, defensive Dan Benish and tight end K.D. Dunn helped the Redskins beat John Elway and Denver, 42-10, in Super Bowl XXII that afternoon in San Diego.
After Washington’s four, the 1981 San Francisco 49er, 1986 New York Giants and 2019 Kansas City Chiefs had three Clemson players on their Super Bowl winning teams. Wide receiver Dwight Clark, defensive tackle Archie Reese and defensive tackle Jim Stuckey were on the 1981 49ers, who won Super Bowl XVI. Cornerback Ty Davis, linebacker Andy Headen and safety Terry Kinard played for the Giants 1986 team that won Super Bowl XXI.
The first Clemson player to ever win a Super Bowl was running back Bill Mathis in Super Bowl III. He was a part of Joe Namath’s guarantee to beat the NFL’s Baltimore Colts. That’s when the New York Jets were still a part of the American Football League and the NFL-AFL merger had not been completed. The Jets won the game, 16-7.
Mathis passed away this past October. He was 81-years old.
Charlie Waters, who played for the Dallas Cowboys, was the first Clemson player to win multiple Super Bowls. He was a safety for the Cowboys when they beat Miami, 24-3, in Super Bowl V and Denver, 27-10, in Super Bowl XII.
Cunningham helped the Pittsburgh Steelers beat Dallas, 35-31, in Super Bowl XIII and then the Rams, 31-19, in Super Bowl XIV.
Jeff Bostic owns the most Super Bowl rings by a former Clemson player. Bostic helped the Redskins win Super Bowl XVII over Miami, 27-17, Super Bowl XXII over Denver and Super Bowl XXVI, 37-24, over Buffalo.
William Perry was the first former Tiger to win both a college football national championship and a Super Bowl. He was a part of the Tigers’ 1981 National Championship Team and then, as a rookie, he helped the Chicago Bears beat the New England Patriots, 46-10, in Super Bowl XX.
Perry, who played defensive tackle, even ran the ball in from a yard out to become, not only the first Clemson player to score a touchdown in a Super Bowl, but he is the only former Tiger to score one. He was also a freshman on Clemson’s 1981 team that won it all. He was the first player in the Super Bowl era to win a national championship as a true freshman in college and a Super Bowl in his rookie season.
Only six former Clemson players in history have won a college football national championship and a Super Bowl. Perry (Chicago, Super Bowl XX), Andy Headen (Giants, Super Bowl XXI), Terry Kinard (Giants, Super Bowl XXI), Dan Benish (Washington, Super Bowl XXII) and K.D. Dunn (Washington, Super Bowl XXII). They were all members of Clemson’s 1981 National Championship Team.
O’Daniel joined this exclusive group last year. He was a part of the Tigers’ 2016 National Championship team. The linebacker was the first player from Clemson’s most recent national championship teams to win a Super Bowl.
Super Bowl Champion Tigers
Super Bowl III
RB Bill Mathis, RB, JetsSuper Bowl VI
Charlie Waters, S, CowboysSuper Bowl IX
John McMakin, TE, SteelersSuper Bowl XII
Charlie Waters, S, CowboysSuper Bowl XIII
Bennie Cunningham, TE, SteelersSuper Bowl XIV
Bennie Cunningham, TE, SteelersSuper Bowl XVI
Dwight Clark, WR, 49ersArchie Reese, DT, 49ersJim Stuckey, DT, 49ersSuper Bowl XVII
Jeff Bostic, C, RedskinsSuper Bowl XXIX
Dwight Clark, WR, 49ersJim Stuckey, DT, 49ersSuper Bowl XX
William Perry, DT, BearsSteve Fuller, QB, BearsSuper Bowl XXI
Ty Davis, CB, GiantsAndy Headen, LB, GiantsTerry Kindard, S, GiantsSuper Bowl XXII
Obed Ariri, K, RedskinsDan Benish, DT, RedskinsJeff Bostic, C, RedskinsD. Dunn, TE, RedskinsSuper Bowl XXIII
Terrance Flagler, RB, 49ersSuper Bowl XXIV
Terrance Flagler, RB, 49ersSuper Bowl XXVI
Jeff Bostic, C, RedskinsSuper Bowl XXXI
Clemson Football Players On Kansas City Chiefs
Wayne Simmons, LB, PackersSuper Bowl XXXII
Trevor Pryce, DT, Broncos
Clemson Tigers On Kansas City Chiefs Stadium
Super Bowl XXXIII
Trevor Pryce, DT, BroncosSuper Bowl XXXIV
Tony Horne, WR, RamsDexter McCleon, CB, RamsSuper Bowl XXXV
James Trapp, DB, Ravens
Super Bowl XL
Clemson Tigers On Kansas City Chiefs Roster
Chris Gardocki, P, SteelersClemson Tigers On Kansas City Chiefs Score
Super Bowl XLIII
Nick Eason, DT, SteelersSuper Bowl XLIV
Anthony Waters, LB, SaintsSuper Bowl XLVIII
Bryon Maxwell, CB, SeahawksSuper Bowl LIII
Dwayne Allen, TE, PatriotsSuper Bowl LIV
Bashaud Breeland, CB, ChiefsDorian O’Daniel, LB, ChiefsSammy Watkins, WR, Chiefs