AJ Terrell becomes second Clemson player taken in first round of NFL Draft
Clemson cornerback A.J. Terrell said prior to the start of the 2019 season that it was a “big year” for him on the football field.
That’s in part because it was also a big summer for Terrell away from it. Terrell’s son — Aundell Terrell III — was born last June, and Terrell wanted to have a season worthy of being a high draft pick.
Mission accomplished.
Terrell was selected by the Atlanta Falcons with the No. 16 overall pick in the first round of the NFL Draft on Thursday, the second Clemson defender to be selected on the night. Clemson’s Isaiah Simmons was picked by the Cardinals with the No. 8 overall pick earlier Thursday.
Terrell begins his NFL career after spending three seasons at Clemson. He recorded six interceptions during his time with the Tigers.
“My playing style, I would say I’m a competitor. I don’t like to back down from competition,” Terrell said after getting selected. “I’m going to give the receiver my best. I know I’m going to get theirs. We’re just going to compete for the whole four quarters.”
The Georgia native, who will get to stay in his home state as he continues his football career, was a two-year starter for Clemson, earning third-team All-ACC honors as a sophomore in 2018 and first-team honors in 2019. Terrell helped the Tigers reach the College Football Playoff all three seasons he was at Clemson, and he had a pick-six in Clemson’s victory over Alabama in the 2018 national championship game.
There was talk that Terrell should return to school for his senior season after he struggled in the 2019 national title game against LSU, but the 6-foot-1, 195-pound Terrell clearly made the right choice opting to skip his senior year.
This story was originally published April 23, 2020 at 10:13 PM.
