A two-star recruit out of James E. Taylor High School in Katy, Texas, Clemons was a First-Team All-District player during his senior season in high school. He had a setback in his true freshman season at Southern Methodist University when he suffered an injury during the fourth game of the season. Thankfully, he was granted a medical redshirt and made a quick recovery.
In each consecutive season with the Mustangs, Clemons improved his game statistically. As a senior, he had the most ball production of his career, leading the SMU defense in interceptions. His performance culminated in Second-Team All-AAC honors to close out his college career.
Stats:
2015: One tackle prior to a medical redshirt.
2016: Started 12 games. 56 total tackles, two tackles for loss, one sack, four passes defended, one interception and one forced fumble.
2017: Started 13 games. 66 total tackles, four tackles for loss, one sack, 10 passes defended, one interception and one fumble recovery.
2018: Started 12 games. 72 total tackles, 2.5 tackles for loss, four passes defended, one interception and one forced fumble.
2019: Started 13 games. 77 total tackles, three tackles for loss, nine passes defended, four interceptions and one fumble recovery.
Combine/pro day results
Height: 6-foot
Weight: 209 pounds
Hands: 9 1/4″
Arms: 31 1/4″
40-yard dash: 4.71
10-yard split: 1.65
225-pound bench: 21
Vertical: 33.5″
Broad Jump: 118″
20-yard shuttle: N/A
3-Cone Drill: N/A
Highlights & Film:
*NSFW Music Warning*
Fit with the Chiefs:
Clemons ran the second-slowest 40-yard dash time of any defensive back at the 2020 NFL Scouting Combine. To his credit, he looks much faster on tape. He’s not going to be playing deep safety in the NFL either way. He’ll be tasked with playing much closer to the line of scrimmage, playing against the run, carrying tight ends up the seam, blitzing and the like. If he does play deep it’ll be in quarters or Cover 2 looks as opposed to single high. He also has some upside in that hybrid nickel and dime linebacker spot typically occupied by Daniel Sorensen.
The Kansas City Chiefs don’t exactly have the most depth at the safety position beyond the four players who were on the 53-man roster in 2019 (Tyrann Mathieu, Juan Thornhill, Daniel Sorensen, and Armani Watts). That depth might be tested early given Thornhill’s recovery from an ACL injury which ended his season in Week 17. Clemons will be competing with recently re-signed DB Andrew Soroh for a roster spot, assuming Thornhill starts the season on the PUP list.
Clemons was on the PAT and field goal block unit at SMU and had two blocked kicks during his career. I anticipate that’s an area that he’ll need to continue to find success if he’s to make the Chiefs’ 53-man roster or the practice squad.
Chiefs’ undrafted free agents
| Position | Player | School | Article Release Date |
| QB | Shea Patterson | Michigan | 5/26 |
| WR | Maurice Ffrench | Pittsburgh | 5/28 |
| LB | Bryan Wright | Cincinnati | 6/2 |
| OC | Darryl Williams | Miss. St. | 6/6 |
| CB | Hakeem Bailey | West Virginia | 6/8 |
| P | Tommy Townsend | Florida | 6/15 |
| WR | Kalija Lipscomb | Vanderbilt | 6/17 |
| DB | Rodney Clemons | SMU | 6/20 |
| OT | Yasir Durant | Missouri | TBA |
| DE | Tershawn Wharton | Missouri S&T | TBA |
| WR | Justice Shelton-Mosley | Vanderbilt | TBA |
| CB | Jalen Julius | Ole Miss | TBA |
| WR | Aleva Hifo | BYU | TBA |
| LB | Omari Cobb | Marshall | TBA |
| WR | Cody White | Michigan St. | TBA |
| CB | Lavert Hill | Michigan | TBA |
| WR | Andre Baccelia | Washington | TBA |
| OG | Jovahn Fair | Temple | TBA |
| CB | Javaris Davis | Auburn | TBA |
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