We’re still over a week away from the deadline for underclassmen to declare for the 2018 NFL Draft but the slow trickle of announcements from juniors and others with college football eligibility left are still rolling in.
The latest announcement came on Sunday as Clemson confirmed that wide receiver/return man Ray-Ray McCloud III would not be returning to the Tigers in 2018 and would instead be going pro.
The 5-foot-10, 180-pounder is not expected to be a first day pick in the draft but his versatility (and speed) should help him in the pros. As a wideout, McCloud had 124 catches for 1,225 yards over three seasons at Clemson and closed out his career with three catches in a Sugar Bowl loss against Alabama.
McCloud also helped the team win the national title last year in his hometown of Tampa, Fla. and played a big role as the Tigers’ primary return man. He racked up 847 all-purpose yards in 2017 and returned one punt for a score as a junior. While he likely isn’t the last Tigers player to declare for the draft, he is among the fastest and should be somebody to watch going into the NFL Scouting Combine.