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Defensive tackle Grady Jarrett's house burns down before he's drafted

Frank Schwab
·NFL writer

Before Clemson defensive tackle Grady Jarrett experienced one of the biggest moments of his life, he and his family had to deal with the pain of seeing their house destroyed in a fire.

Jarrett's family's house in Conyers, Ga., was significantly damaged by a fire on Friday night during a draft party for Jarrett. On Saturday, the Atlanta Falcons took him in the fifth round.

About 50 people were at the draft party, the Atlanta Journal-Constitution reported. Nobody was injured. Jarrett and his draft party moved to a family member's house on Saturday.

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After drafting Jarrett and hearing about the house, Falcons owner Arthur Blank ordered the staff to get Jarrett and his family some clothes, ESPN.com said. NFL Network said that all of Jarrett's trophies and football memorabilia burned in the fire. The house belonged to his mother; Jarrett's father is former Falcons linebacker Jessie Tuggle.

Fox Sports said about half of the house burned. The report said the family thinks an electrical fire was the cause.

"It was an unexplainable feeling," Jarrett told Fox Sports. "It was hopelessness. It was disbelief. At that point I wasn't thinking about the draft. There's no feeling that describes watching a house burn. The important thing was everyone got out safe. We lost some things that we can't get back, but for the most part it's just material things and as a family we're just happy to be safe."

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Frank Schwab is the editor of Shutdown Corner on Yahoo Sports. Have a tip? Email him at shutdowncorner@yahoo.com or follow him on Twitter!