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Best of the best: Ranking the top 10 NFL Draft prospects in the ACC
With the Super Bowl in the rearview mirror the 2016 NFL Draft is fast approaching and the ACC will make its presence felt in the early rounds thanks to a stellar field of marquee edge rushers and cover corners – both of which are extremely coveted by NFL GMs.
As a whole, the ACC is flowing with potential NFL talent, but here’s a pre-combine look at the top 10 ACC prospects heading into this year’s draft.
1: Jalen Ramsey, CB, Florida State, Jr.
There’s not many “sure things” when it comes to the NFL Draft, but Florida State defensive back Jalen Ramsey is as close as it gets. The 6-1, 200-pound, two-time all-American has it all. Arguably the best athlete in the draft, Ramsey, who also starred on the Seminoles’ track and field team, has the size to play safety in the NFL and the speed to play corner. During his time at FSU Ramsey became the first true freshman to start at corner since Deion Sanders and has started all 41 games of his college career. Listed as the best CB in the draft by NFL Draft guru Mike Mayock, expect to hear Ramsey’s named called no later than the fifth selection.
2: Shaq Lawson, DE, Clemson, Jr.
One of the best edge rushers in the entire draft, Clemson DE Shaq Lawson appears to be Vic Beasley reincarnated and has the potential to be a top-10 pick just like his former Tigers’ teammate. The 6-3, 270-pound junior AP all-American is explosive off the ball and led the nation with 24.5 tackles for a loss in 2015. More than just a sack artist, Lawson can play the run and make tackles, as evident by his 59 stops this season. Simply put, Lawson is a game-changer, and after seeing the effect Von Miller had in this year’s Super Bowl it’s easy to see why NFL teams are salivating at the chance to draft the Clemson star.
3: Tyler Boyd, WR, Pitt, Jr.
Pitt’s Tyler Boyd may not get the hype that other elite wide receivers are getting – Boyd wasn’ listed in Mayock’s top five WRs in this year’s draft – but he is going to make a lot of NFL teams regret passing over him. At 6-2, 200 pounds, Boyd has ideal NFL size and terrific hands. Boyd ended his three-year career at Pitt as the school’s all-time leader in both receptions (254) and receiving yards (3,361), and that’s the same Pitt that future NFL Hall of Famer Larry Fitzgerald attended. The fact that the Panthers struggled at the QB position and went through a coaching change during his three years at the school never seemed to bother Boyd, as the two-time all-ACC first-teamer continued to produce at a high level every Saturday. Boyd is widely projected as a second-round pick and he will make any GM that selects him look like a genius when he comes off the board.
4: Mackensie Alexander, CB, Clemson, R-So.
After showing promise as a redshirt freshman in 2014, Clemson CB Mackensie Alexander took the next step and became a true shutdown corner in 2015. The former freshman all-American turned into an all-ACC first-teamer last season and is rated the third-best corner in this year’s draft by Mayock. The 5-11, 195-pound all-ACC first-teamer has the ability and the confidence to be a star at the next level and won’t be on the board by the time the second round of the draft begins.
5: Sheldon Rankins, DT, Louisville, Sr,
Louisville’s 6-2, 305-pound DE/DT Sheldon Rankins has the strength and skills to make a smooth transition into the NFL. Rankins’ burly frame makes him a good space-eater up front, while his speed allows him to be a disruptive force at the line. The all-ACC performer was a two-year starter with the Cardinals and fought off double teams on a nightly basis en route to a career-high 58 tackles, 13 tackles for a loss and six sacks.
6: Kevin Dodd, DE, Clemson, Jr.
Perhaps no one in the country boosted their stock more than Kevin Dodd did in 2015. The Clemson defensive end was a blip on the radar at the beginning of the season but after ranking second in the nation with 24 tackles for a loss and racking up 12.5 sacks, there’s not many players hotter than Dodd right now. The 6-foot-5, 275-pounder finished the season on fire with stellar performances against Oklahoma and Alabama in the College Football Playoffs, tallying four sacks in the final two games of the year. Right now Dodd appears to be straddling the fence between the first and second rounds, but a strong showing at the combine should propel him up NFL GM’s draft boards.
7: Jayron Kearse, S, Clemson, Jr.
At 6-foot-5, 220 pounds, Clemson safety Jayron Kearse is a physical specimen. In 2015, the hard-hitting junior racked up career-highs in tackles (62) and tackles for a loss (6.5), while helping the Tigers go 14-1 and reach the national title game. Kearse has a great blend of size and speed and also has strong NFL bloodlines. Kearse’s uncle is former NFL DE Jevon “The Freak” Kearse and his cousin is longtime NFL DB Phillip Buchanon. Look for Kearse to hear his name called somewhere in the late first/early second round.
8: Kendall Fuller, CB, Virginia Tech, Jr.
Virginia Tech has sent plenty of DBs with the last name Fuller to the NFL, but perhaps Kendall Fuller is the most talented of the bunch. Fuller, whose older brothers Vincent, Corey and Kyle were all NFL Draft picks, appeared on several all-American teams after his stellar sophomore season in 2014. However, in 2015, Fuller started three games before a meniscus tear sidelined him for the rest of the season. Fuller’s injury, combined with the fact that this year’s draft features a handful of elite corners, may just push him out of the first round. However, if he can fully recover Fuller is no doubt a first-round talent.
9: Jeremy Cash, S, Duke, Sr.
Jeremy Cash’s true position in the NFL may be up for debate, but no matter where he plays one thing is for sure: he will tackle. The 6-2, 210-pound all-American excelled in a hybrid safety/linebacker role for the Blue Devils where he tallied 100 tackles and led all FBS defensive backs with 18 tackles for a loss in 2015. Cash wrapped up his Duke career as a three-time all-American, but uncertainty regarding where to play him may cause him to fall into the second round
10: Landon Turner, OG, North Carolina, Sr.
Throughout his career North Carolina guard Landon Turner has been a consistent force up front for the Tar Heels. The 6-foot-4, 225-pound senior was a four-year starter and in 2015 was named the ACC Offensive Lineman of the Week four times, the most of anybody in the conference. Turner, an all-ACC first-teamer, is a physical, durable guard who has second round steal written all over him.
