The ACC again had a strong 2018 NFL draft finishing 2nd to the SEC in the total number of NFL draft picks.
FINAL — Most Picks by Conference (2018)
53- SEC
45- ACC
32- Big Ten
30- Pac12
20- Big12— Pick Six Previews (@PickSixPreviews) April 28, 2018
4??5?? total #ACCFootball players selected in the 2018 #NFLDraft: https://t.co/w1haZ9aOaz pic.twitter.com/DNx1pXgiaj
— The ACC (@theACC) April 29, 2018
For some ACC schools it was business as usual. FSU, Miami, and Clemson are the three ACC schools most known for producing NFL talent. Florida State and Miami had nice drafts with 6 players each being picked. FSU and Miami have been producing NFL talent for years. Clemson had 3 players picked, which seems a little low for them, but next year they could have 7-10 players drafted so they are fine. This year a couple of ACC schools really stood out for being NFL Draft winners – Virginia Tech and NC State.
Virginia Tech and NC State are at the cusp of being legitimate challengers to the ACC’s reigning top program – Clemson. It’s starts by closing the talent gap, and with the 2018 draft results Dave Doeren and Justin Fuente can walk into any recruits homes and just show a tape of this year’s NFL draft. Nothing elevates recruiting faster than proving you can get players to the NFL.
The ACC produces more NFL draft picks that any other conference – save the SEC. To lead the conference in draft picks is a significant accomplishment. NC State pulled the trick with 7 NFL picks including top 5 pick Bradley Chubb. If Dave Doeren properly manages the results of the last 10 months from a 9 win season to a great draft, then 2017-2018 could be the foundation year that gets the Wolfpack to the next level. This draft proves he can develop his players into legitimate NFL prospects.
Virginia Tech didn’t have quite as many players drafted as NC State. 5 Virginia Tech players were drafted, but where the Hokies cashed in was on opening night when the most people are watching the draft. They became the first school to have a a pair of brothers drafted in the first round. – Tremaine Edmunds, LB and Terrell Edmunds, S. Virginia Tech is a fine football school, but multiple first round picks are Alabama Ohio State type stuff there.
Justin Fuente just found his recruiting pitch for years to come.
For NC State and Virginia Tech, the 2018 NFL Draft couldn’t have went better and you can bet future recruits for those schools are going to know.
Unfortunately with the good there’s usually bad, and in a later blog post we’ll look at the ACC’s draft losers – I’m looking right at you Georgia Tech and Duke with zero picks.
