From ‘Who’s he?’ to potential first-round draft pick

When considering what has unfolded for Kevin Dodd over the last year, one might conclude that the former Clemson defensive end essentially came out of nowhere.

For the most part, that assumption would be correct.

“I think most people were like, ‘Who’s this guy?’ ” Dodd said.

Over the course of Clemson’s magical 15-game 2015 season, they found out.

Rob Rang, an analyst for NFLDraftScout.com, said Dodd probably played his way into the first round. He’s rated No. 27 overall and No. 6 defensive end, according to the website.

Dodd notched his first sack of the season in the Tigers’ 20-17 victory against Louisville, jump-starting a season that saw the 6-foot-5, 275-pounder transform from a virtual unknown to a potential first-round draft pick.

“That game gave me a boost of self-confidence that came out of nowhere and I started achieving my goals,” Dodd said. “Everything seemed to hit home from there.”

Dodd not only thrived on the end opposite All-American Shaq Lawson, but by season’s end had posted numbers that rivaled Lawson’s.

Dodd entered the season with grand totals of 21 tackles, three tackles for loss and no sacks over his first three seasons; last season alone he had 86 tackles, 23.5 tackles for loss and 12 sacks.

Lawson and Dodd wound up ranking first and second on the team – as well as nationally – in tackles for loss, and Dodd earned second-team All-Atlantic Coast Conference honors.

“He had to wait his turn because he had to become a good player,” Clemson coach Dabo Swinney said. “He was a guy that had talent and had skill and potential – but as I tell these guys all the time – it’s not about potential. It’s about performance.”

Dodd distinguished himself by having his best games in the Tigers’ biggest games.

He had 3.5 tackles for loss against Notre Dame, 3.5 more against Oklahoma in the Orange Bowl, then capped his season with five tackles for loss in the national championship game against Alabama.

He’ll pursue a pro career with a degree in his back pocket – Dodd will graduate in May with a degree in sociology and a minor in athletic leadership.

“I’ll try to stay grounded and keep my head down and grind,” Dodd said. “I’m used to that. It’s nothing different from what I’ve been doing.”

This story was originally published February 9, 2016 at 7:18 PM with the headline "From ‘Who’s he?’ to potential first-round draft pick."