T.J. Green hauled in just one interception and played limited time at Clemson after making the switch from receiver to safety, but his elite athleticism convinced the Indianapolis Colts to take the defensive back in the second round with the No. 57 pick.
Colts draft Clemson safety T.J. Green with the No. 57 overall pick
Green switched from receiver and has limited experience as a defensive back, but his elite combination of height, weight and speed made him an attractive prospect in the 2016 NFL Draft.
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It's not difficult to figure out what there is to like about Green. At 6'2, 209 pounds, he has good size for a safety and his 4.34 40-yard dash time was one of the fastest at the 2016 NFL Combine. He also impressed in the broad jump with a 129-inch leap, which shows the type of explosion that is necessary for an NFL defensive back.
The question is whether or not the Colts will be able to get Green to realize that potential after investing in him early in the 2016 NFL Draft.
One of the only highlights of his collegiate career came in clean-up duty during a blowout in the Russell Athletic Bowl two seasons ago, when he intercepted a badly underthrown ball:
Other than that, the former receiver mostly played special teams until stepping into the defensive lineup as a senior in 2015. He finished the year with 95 tackles, 5.5 tackles for loss and one sack, as the Tigers asked Green to play close to the line of scrimmage and blitz often.
But his lack of experience still raises eyebrows and makes the pick potentially risky.
“There is a buzz going around about him from some people I talk to on a regular basis but I’m not sure where it is coming from,” an NFC executive told NFL.com. “He’s fast, but what else?”
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