If you are looking for dominance on the defensive side of the ball, look no further than Shaq Lawson.The 21-year old standout defensive end from Clemson is one of the star prospects available in this years NFL Draft, and he is determined to seize his moment.It is a draft class packed with talented edge rushers, including Joey Bosa out of Ohio State, Georgias Leonard Floyd and Lawsons former college team-mate Kevin Dodd. But Lawson is a man full of confidence, coming off a fantastic year in which he recorded 25.5 tackles for loss and 12.5 sacks. And now he is ready to prove that he can be the best.I feel like Im the best. I went up against the best in college, Lawson told Sky Sports.I dont take anything from those other guys [defensive ends in the draft], they did good to get to where they are. But, I feel like Im the best. NFL Draft: Beginners guide All you need to know ahead of Thursdays 2016 Draft I went up against guys like Ronnie Stanley [standout former Notre Dame offensive tackle], and other guys like that who youre going to see in the NFL.Im an explosive athlete. I can play against the run, and I can play against the pass. Ive shown how fast I am - Im a very explosive guy.It is hard to argue with Lawson - his numbers and performance levels back up everything he says. After patiently waiting behind Vic Beasley for two seasons, Lawson finally got his chance to come into his own at Clemson in 2015 after Beasley headed for the NFL.Lawson is a player who has built his game on explosiveness and making crucial plays when they are needed most. All of that helped Clemson complete an undefeated regular season, before playing in the National Championship game against Alabama in January.Clemson ultimately lost that game, but what was clear for all to see was that it was a team full of elite-level talent once again. Lawson followed in the footsteps of Vic Beasley (#44 of the Atlanta Falcons) at Clemson Just a few short years after producing the likes of Beasley, DeAndre Hopkins and Sammy Watkins, Clemson has unleashed another generation of incredible talent.Starring alongside Lawson is fellow defensive end Dodd, while star quarterback Deshaun Watson could be one of the most highly coveted players of next years Draft.It is clearly a college programme that knows how to create stars, and Lawson reserved special praise for defensive ends coach, Marion Hobby, in helping him to the top of his game. Lawson is put through his paces at the 2016 NFL Scouting Combine Coach Hobby is a great coach - he knew I was special from day one. He always teaches us to do the right thing, teaching us the technique of how to be a success, said Lawson.Thats where most of our success came from - putting players in the right position to make plays. He was an NFL defensive ends coach - he also played for the Patriots.He knows what it takes to get there - having a guy thats been there and done that knows the right ways to make things successful.Lawson grew up in Central, South Carolina, just one town away from Clemson. It was always a dream of his to play for what was essentially his local team. He could have remained there for a further year, but elected to head for the NFL Draft this time around. Previous No1 QB picks Looking back at the good and not so good...... Despite his love for Clemson, he knew it was the right time to go.All my coaches felt like I was ready to go. They felt like I was ready to move on to the next level, he added. Im ready to move on to bigger and better things. Thats what Im ready to do. Im ready to go.Lawson is clearly determined, eager and, more than anything, ready for success and ready to achieve his goals. He will be one of the select players present at Thursdays showpiece event in Chicago, and he revealed that he will be realising a life-long dream when his name is called.It feels great knowing Im going to be an NFL player - its been something Ive been dreaming about since I was a little kid, he added. Lawsons defensive impact will be an asset to whichever team lands him I used to always watch the Draft on TV. I always told myself that one day, Im going to be there. Its going to be special for me and for my family.Im just happy about the situation and the opportunity that Ive got.With three games at Londons Wembley Stadium in 2016, theres a chance Lawson could be bringing his talents across the Atlantic, and he told the UK fans that is something he would very much like to experience.Itd be great to play in London - itd be great to see just what Londons like!Whether that trip comes next season, the year after or further into the future, we do not yet know. But what is for certain, is that Shaq Lawson will be a man in demand come Thursday night.You can follow the 2016 NFL Draft on Sky Sports 1 from midnight on Thursday and with us here all week on www.skysports.com/nflAlso See:NFL Draft: Beginners guideNFL Draft: Top pick QBsNFL on Sky SportsPunditsKris Russell Oilers Jersey . -- When the Florida Panthers fell behind by two goals in the first period to the top team in the NHL, it appeared they were on their way to yet another loss. 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The Dane followed up his first European Tour title last weekend with eight birdies and just a single dropped shot on Thursday for a one-stroke advantage over South Africas Allan Versfeld and Portugals Ricardo Santos.IOWA CITY, Iowa -- No. 17 Iowas backfield tandem of Akrum Wadley and LeShun Daniels looked spectacular in its opener.The same couldnt be said for the Hawkeyes defense, which looked lost at times against a Mid-American opponent that won just three games last season.Wadley ran for 121 yards and two touchdowns, Daniels added 83 yards rushing and two scores, and Iowa beat Miami (Ohio) 45-21 on Saturday.The speedy Wadley and the more powerful Daniels did their damage on just 22 carries, a promising sign for a program that prefers to set the tone offensively on the ground.With LeShun splitting the carries and that line were running behind, it makes it so much easier. You could probably run through that, with the line weve got. Wadley said, joking with a reporter.Senior C.J. Beathard was 13 of 20 passing for 192 yards and a touchdown for the Hawkeyes (1-0), whose sloppy defensive play in the second half let Miami hang around.Iowa played much of the game without star linebacker Josey Jewell, who was ejected early in the first quarter for targeting. Jewell nailed Matt Merimee with a viscous helmet to helmet hit.Daniels and Wadley each scored twice in the first half, and Jerminic Smiths 12-yard TD reception put the Hawkeyes ahead 35-7 early in the third quarter.The RedHawks (0-1) had touchdown drives of 75 and 74 yards with the game seemingly in hand before Derrick Mitchell Jr.s touchdown run with 3:08 left put Iowa ahead by 24.Our run defense was not what it needs to be (Saturday), Iowa coach Kirk Ferentz said of Miami, which ran for 158 yards. When people can move the ball on the ground, it can be a little bit demoralizing.Billy Bahl threw for 266 yards and two TDs for Miami, which outgained Iowa 424-404.THE TAKEAWAYIowa: The Hawkeyes defense gave up a ton of yards without star linebacker Josey Jewell, who was ejected early in the first quarter for targeting. The Hawkeyes forced and recovered two fumbles though.Miami: Bahl had a strong day against one of the Big Tens better secondaries. The RedHawks will need more days like that from him as they look to work back into contention in the Mid-American after just five wins in two years. But Miamis defense, as exppected, was pushed around by the more physical Hawkeyes.dddddddddddd Iowa averaged eight yards a play.POLL IMPLICATIONSIowas ranking wont likely move much. The Hawkeyes looked like a team ranked No. 17, with flashes of brilliant play on offense and plenty of questions to be answered on defense.NOTABLESIowa: The Hawkeyes decision to use Desmond King, the 2015 Thorpe Award winner as the nations top defensive back, on punt returns paid off in the opener. King had 85 yards on three returns -despite having a long run off a punt called back because of the penalty that saw Jewell get booted. ... Iowa turned to true freshman quarterback Nathan Stanley in garbage time, burning a possible redshirt season. Its likely a sign that the Hawkeyes coaching staff, which has veered from its traditional ways in the past 18 months, has high hopes for Stanley.Miami: Maurice Thomas ran for 60 yards on just nine carries and Alonzo Smith had 58 yards. ...The RedHawks held the ball for nearly 37 minutes, wearing out Iowas defense in the process. ... Miami converted on both of its fourth-down tries and was a respectable 5 of 11 on third downs.LAST WORDI wasnt consciously doing it. I mean, it just never really presented itself. We were really good on first and second down, so we really werent put in many third and long situations, said Beathard when asked why he didnt run the ball much Saturday. The Hawkeyes have worked with Beathard, a talented rusher from the pocket, on sliding to avoid the injuries that hampered him after big hits in 2015.UP NEXTIowa: The Hawkeyes get their first Power Five test of the season when rival Iowa State visits Kinnick Stadium next Saturday. The Cyclones have a new coach, Matt Campbell, and an offensive line decimated by injuries and departures. But Iowa State usually plays Iowa tough. The Hawkeyes needed two late TDs to beat the Cyclones 31-17 last year in Ames.Miami: The RedHawks open a two-game home stand when it hosts Eastern Illinois. The Panthers, of the FCS, opened with a 38-21 loss to Western Illinois on Thursday. ' ' '