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Top ACC candidates for 2017 NFL draft
- Updated: May 3, 2016
10:50 AM ET
With the 2016 NFL draft in the rearview mirror, let’s look ahead. Here are the big names to have on your radar come a year from now, when another crop of prospects usher in professional dreams. This is an abbreviated list; the ACC had 26 players drafted in 2016 and 47 picked in 2015. Surely, a few off-the-radar players will make strong statements in the next 12 months. And of course, decisions will have to be made by several underclassmen, though that doesn’t preclude them from mention here. In fact, we have more underclassmen on this list than players in their final seasons of eligibility.
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Clemson TE Jordan Leggett: Leggett tied a school-record for a tight end last season with eight touchdown receptions. He is a phenomenal athlete who decided to return for his senior year, when he could emerge as the nation’s top tight end.
Clemson CB Cordrea Tankersley: Tankersley was often overlooked when playing next to Mackensie Alexander, but he had a strong junior season that gave him a draft decision to make this winter. He had five interceptions and will be the leader of the Tigers’ secondary this fall.
Florida State DE DeMarcus Walker: Walker did it all in his junior season, leaving him with a serious decision to make about his future. He decided to return, hoping to build off a 2015 in which he had 15.5 tackles for loss, 10.5 sacks, four forced fumbles and an interception.
Clemson DT Carlos Watkins: Watkins was a first-team All-ACC selection who made eight tackles for loss last season. Now he’ll be the focal point of Clemson’s defensive line in 2016, along with Christian Wilkins. Like Leggett, Watkins has a chance to emerge as one of the top players at his position nationally.
Louisville DE/LB Devonte Fields: Fields likely would have been one of the top outside linebacker prospects in the 2016 draft, but he opted to return. He had 10.5 sacks in his first season at Louisville. He was the Big 12 defensive player of the year in 2012 at TCU before his dismissal in 2014, which will surely …
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