Clemson defensive end Shaq Lawson took more than a few people by surprise last week when he declared his intentions to enter the NFL draft.
It was not the decision itself that was the shocker. Rather, it was the timing of his announcement.
Generally speaking, underclassmen weighing their options usually wait until after bowl season to make a formal announcement. Among the four teams in the College Football Playoff, Lawson is the only underclassman to declare for the NFL draft so far. Alabama alone has at least five players who could leave school early. So why did Lawson decide to make his intentions known well before taking on Oklahoma on Dec.