Andrew Booth Jr., Mario Goodrich expected to join crowd of Clemson cornerbacks in NFL
CLEMSON — Clemson's corners arrived at the NFL Draft from different angles.
Andrew Booth Jr.'s trajectory has been a steady climb for more than two years, beginning with his All-ACC season as a sophomore and reaching a peak where he is expected to be a first-round pick in the NFL Draft, which begins Thursday (8 p.m., ESPN).
Mario Goodrich's path has been more like that of a spaceship than of a jet. In his first three years, he had 36 career tackles and four starts. Last year, he made first-team All-ACC, joining Booth. His standout performance in a bowl game helped land him as a projected target in Friday's second or third rounds.
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Both could have returned to Clemson for one more season. But neither has had a better time to go.
"It's two-fold. You love it and you hate it," Clemson cornerbacks coach Mike Reed said. "You don't want them to leave. You're like, 'No, stay here with me.' But it's also gratifying. You see them come in a freshmen and write down goals and see those goals come to fruition. Dreams coming true."
Booth and Goodrich are expected to be Clemson's first two players picked, making it five from the position in the past six years. They would join Cordrea Tankersley (third round by Miami Dolphins in 2017, Trayvon Mullen (second round by Oakland Raiders in 2019 and A.J. Terrell (first round by Atlanta Falcons in 2020).
"Winners," Reed said. "They know how to work. They're selfless. They're good teammates. ... They're going to bring Clemson to wherever they go."
Booth did not go through drills at the NFL Scouting Combine and has had surgery for a sports hernia. He is not expected to drop out of the first round or be unavailable for the start of mini-camps. Goodrich participated some at the Combine but had an injury as well and didn't run the 40.
"I hurt it at the Senior Bowl," Goodrich said. "Freak accident on a play, just trying to jam somebody. I re-injured it at the Combine. It still lingered a little bit. During the combine, running my 40, a reaggravated it. ... I ain't too worried. Teams know what's going on."
His last game was arguably his best. Goodrich was selected MVP of the Cheez-It Bowl in Orlando, Florida, a 20-13 win against Iowa State. He had an interception return for the winning touchdown and forced a fumble at the end to seal the victory. He was name to the All-Bowl Team by the Associated Press.
"I feel like it really boosted my stock," Goodrich said. "A lot of guys didn't play in the bowl games, decided to opt out. I feel like it showed what kind of program we have here and how all the guys care for one another. I also just felt like I needed to put more tape out there."
It's a cornerback-heavy draft. Booth is one of four expected to go in the first round, along with Ahmad Gardner of Cincinnati, Derek Stingley Jr. of LSU and Trent McDuffie of Washington. As many as 10 more could go before Goodrich. Some mock draft guessers have Goodrich slipping as far as the sixth round.
"Man, I don't really care what they've got to say," Goodrich said. "Most of them are sitting in their momma's house somewhere. Whoever they've got in front of me in the mock draft, I don't really care. It's about getting there. And then once you're there, it's about staying there. I feel like once I get in there, I'm going to produce."
Booth had two interceptions against rival South Carolina in the final game of the regular season. He said he believes he is worthy of a first-round pick but is also improving week to week.
"I don't even feel like I reached my potential yet," Booth said. "There are so many things I can get better at. I'm going to get better. It's going to be scary."