Las Vegas Raiders defensive lineman Clelin Ferrell did not have an incredibly impactful rookie campaign, logging 38 tackles, 4.5 sacks, a fumble recovery and five passes defended in 15 games.
Ferrell was far from terrible, but the Raiders selected him with the fourth overall pick of the NFL Draft last spring to help their struggling pass rush, which is something he didn't really do in his first season.
But general manager Mike Mayock still has high hopes for Ferrell, saying that the Clemson product “works his tail off” and that he is “a perfectionist,” via the team.
Mayock added that the Raiders themselves need to do a better job of making things easier for Ferrell, namely in terms of where they line him up along the line of scrimmage. He also said that he thinks Ferrell is thinking too much and wants him to get the point where everything is just a reaction.
Ferrell spent four years at Clemson, arriving in 2015 and redshirting his first year there. In 2016, he totaled 44 tackles, 12.5 tackles for loss and six sacks, and the following season, Ferrell showed considerable improvement, registering 66 tackles, 18 tackles for loss, nine sacks, and a couple of forced fumbles.
The 22-year-old then broke out during his final campaign with the Tigers, racking up 55 tackles, 20 tackles for loss, 11.5 sacks, three forced fumbles, a fumble recovery, and a defensive touchdown.
Las Vegas is certainly hoping for bigger things out of Ferrell in 2020, and based on how highly Mayock just spoke of him, it seems safe for one to assume that Ferrell is ready to take the next step.
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