Shawn Springs, Antoine Winfield and Ahmed Plummer have already established an impressive trend of Ohio State cornerbacks taken in the first round. Nate Clements has now joined that group.
Nate “The Great”, as he has proclaimed himself, was just that on Saturday, selected by the Buffalo Bills with the 21st selecion in the 2001 NFL Draft.
“I’m very happy for Nate. He’s a great kid who works hard and makes good decisions. I think his best football is yet to come,” said his agent Neil Cornrich. “He loves football and wants to play at the highest level.”
His agent went as far as expecting an early Pro Bowl appearance for Clements. Cornrich said Clements was excited about playing in Buffalo where he will be close to home and will be playing under a defensive-minded coach in Greg Williams, who was the Titan’s defensive coordinator before moving to the Bills.
Clements was the first cornerback off the board on Saturday, which was somewhat of a surprise considering most draft experts had Mississippi State’s Fred Smoot rated above Clements. Cornrich said Clements emerged as the No. 1 corner during the postseason workouts.
“He clearly established he was the top corner. He possesses superior size (5-foot-11, 207-pounds) and speed (sub 4.4 speed in the 40-yard dash),” Cornrich said.
“He has 35 pounds and an inch on Fred Smoot. He out-benched him by 2,000 percent,” he said.
Smoot could only put on 225 pounds once while Clements was able to do 20 reps.
Clements left OSU one year early. Cornrich said it was partly to compete at the next level, but money was also a factor.
Cornrich said if Clements would have stayed at OSU there was the chance he could get hurt. He said his client couldn’t improve on what he had done in his college career.
“It not only allowed him to make some money, but he will be a free agent earlier (than had he elected to stay in school),” Cornrich said.
Cornrich thinks Buffalo may have a preference for OSU bred corners.
“(The Bills) have a had great success with OSU players. They speak very highly of (former defensive coordinator) Jon Tenuta,” he said.
Cornrich said the Bills were thrilled to get Clements at the 21st pick. He was the guy they wanted all along, even over top running back Deuce McAllister who went to the Saints.
Clements was one of six Buckeyes to be drafted. However, up until the sixth round South Florida had more players selected (three) than OSU. OSU’s only selections up until the sixth round were first rounders Clements and Ryan Pickett who went to St. Louis.
Rodney Bailey was selected by the Steelers in the sixth round while Ken-Yon Rambo (Oakland), Reggie Germany (Buffalo) and Derek Combs (Oakland) all found NFL homes in the seventh and final round of the draft.
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