After breakout season, Andrew Booth Jr. draft stock on the rise

CLEMSON — Andrew Booth Jr. was constantly making highlight clips last season.

The Clemson cornerback had a one-handed interception against Virginia in 2020. A week later, he had a spectacular pass break up against Miami. Even though he only started four games, the junior is now expected to be a lockdown cornerback. And with Derion Kendrick’s departure, Clemson needs a new leader in the secondary.

Booth seems ready for the new job. He made yet another eye-popping play in the annual Orange vs. White spring game this April, reeling in a one-handed interception which was called off but would’ve counted during a real game.

The NFL is taking notice of the former five-star prospects recent rise, too. With the 2021 NFL Draft nearly two weeks old, analysts are starting to roll out their 2022 too-early mock drafts. Booth’s name continues to surface.

“He was, you know, SportsCenter…highlights at times and then other times he just wasn’t available so that’s hard. It’s not anybody’s fault,” Clemson defensive coordinator Brent Venables said earlier this spring. “Certainly he didn’t want to miss (time) but that makes it tough on him for the things that you’re talking about, you know, have to put together what you would call a great year.

“He’s capable of having a great year and again, just as much as anything, you know, being consistent with his fundamentals, with his knowledge with how he thinks of the game within the game.”

Andrew Booth Jr. is a projected first-round pick in 2022. (Stephen Lew/ Getty Images)

The Athletic’s draft guru, Dane Brugler, projects Booth as an early first-round pick in next year’s draft. Forecasted as the second cornerback taken off the board, Brugler believes the Clemson defensive back will be selected 12th overall by the Arizona Cardinals.

And Chris Trapasso from CBS Sports recently revealed his 2022 projections, featuring Booth in the first round. Trapasso thinks Booth will hear his name called with the 20th pick in next year’s draft, picked by the Dallas Cowboys.

Both draft experts write that Booth’s showed he can track down and make plays on the ball, with the proof being his knack for making one-handed interceptions.

“He’s had a good spring,” Venables said. “He did miss some time, but he has the chance to be a special player. He needs to have a great summer in order to do that.”

Booth now has put the work in this summer so his draft stock continues to rise. Draft experts believe he’s capable of being a first-round pick right now. While one-handed interceptions are great, he has to show he can be on an island with wide receivers on Saturdays this fall.

If he does that, he’ll have an opportunity to play on Sundays.