Mario

Goodrich

Goodrich (6'2/180) is an intriguing prospect at the position after he was the only player at the position in the ACC to record a coverage grade of above 80 last season, according to Pro Football Focus. The former Tiger has been battling through some injuries this offseason after he had issues with bruised and broken ribs during the Senior Bowl. He participated in the 40-yard dash but did not participate in other drills because he felt his ribs tighten up in Indianapolis.

A preseason all-ACC selection, Kendrick (6'0/190) was held out of the Tigers’ season-opening win over Wake Forest due to an undisclosed injury. In fact Clemson was without both of its projected starting cornerbacks, as Mario Goodrich was also held out. Both are expected to make their season debuts on Saturday.

Goodrich (6'2/180) injured the ankle early last season and nagged him throughout the year, receiving treatment before every game in order to play through the ailment. He was still limited during the nine days of spring practice, having re-injured the ankle while performing drills over the winter. Goodrich is considered the lead candidate to serve as Clemson’s third cornerback, so they’re hoping this ankle scope procedure can help to avoid more invasive surgery down the line.

While Goodrich does a little bit of everything at Lee’s Summit West (Missouri) -- he has worked as a receiver, cornerback and kick returner -- Nebraska views the 6-foot-2, 180-pounder as a corner. Rivals’ Nate Clouse notes that Goodrich “has terrific ball reactions which combined with his size and length make him a pass break-up and interception machine.” That assessment rings true based on his work as a high school junior in 2016, when he notched seven interceptions while breaking up 12 passes. Goodrich ranks as Rivals’ No. 202 overall prospect for the 2018 cycle and gives Nebraska 12 commitments in the class. Sleep on the Cornhuskers’ recruiting work at your own peril -- they currently sit at No. 6 in Rivals’ team rankings. Only Ohio State (No. 4) and Penn State (No. 2) rank higher in the Big Ten.

Goodrich was considered a strong favorite to sign with LSU at one time, but the four-star cornerback ended up committing to Clemson on Monday. “Goodrich still fit the mold of an ideal LSU cornerback,” Wommack writes. “Instead, he’s heading to Clemson, adding just another piece to the already loaded Tigers roster. By the time LSU found out he was headed elsewhere, it was too late to replace him in the class, making it sting even more.”

In mid-January, Helmholdt liked Goodrich for LSU, but the tide has since shifted. That’s because the 6-foot-2, 180-pound corner subbed in an official visit to Clemson for a previously scheduled trip to Ole Miss on Jan. 26 and then opted to not even visit Arkansas at all this past weekend after previously scheduling that trip. This course of events would seem to indicate momentum toward a signing with the Tigers on National Signing Day. Goodrich, Rivals’ No. 99 overall prospect in the 2018 class, will be announcing his choice bright and early at 8:30 AM EST Wednesday.

Goodrich (6'2/180) looked very much like he might be trending toward signing with LSU at the beginning of the new year, but Clemson changed the equation in rapid order after the cornerback opted to take an official visit to HC Dabo Swinney’s outfit on Jan. 26. The ball-hawking athlete also has some upside as a potential offensive piece and as a special teams return man in addition to his upside as a traditional corner. Rivals ranks him as the No. 99 overall prospect in the 2018 class. He had been a longtime Nebraska pledge before he opted to reassess matters in December. Clemson’s gain, now.

Goodrich (6'2/180) had been committed to Nebraska from the spring into the autumn, but reopened his recruitment at the beginning of December. The Huskers are no longer in the running for his pledge. He’ll be taking an official visit to Georgia this coming weekend and additionally is planning for trips to Ole Miss and Florida -- or possibly Oregon -- before National Signing Day in February. Goodrich offers a strong nose for the ball -- he picked off seven passes as a junior at Lee’s Summit West (Missouri) -- and brings prototypical size and length to the table. Rivals ranks him as the No. 95 overall prospect in the 2018 class.