NFL Draft Blitz

Every April it is always a battle amongst the power conferences in college football regarding which conference will be the best represented in the NFL Draft. Some years it is the SEC, while other times it is the Big 10, but there is no question that this year the Atlantic Coast Conference is the King of the NFL Draft.

Simply looking at the first round of the NFL Draft, there could be an astounding thirteen ACC players selected. Glancing back at the last few years the next highest would be ten from the ACC in 2002 when North Carolina’s Julius Peppers and Ryan Sims both went in the Top 6. The ACC’s two power players without question though are Mario Williams out of N.C. State and D’Brickashaw Ferguson out of the University of Virginia. By looking at some of the most reputable NFL Draft experts’ mock drafts, it appears to be a lock that both of these players will be in the Top 5.

Having two players from the same conference in the Top 5 is a great accomplishment, but Southern Cal from the Pac-10 might have two players by itself in the Top 5 through Reggie Bush and Matt Leinart. It is not simply Ferguson and Williams that make this such a great class for the ACC; it’s the overall depth that the ACC offers that gives it supremacy.

Likely to be selected just outside of the Top 5 is big-time tight end Vernon Davis out of Maryland. Davis has all of the intangibles to be a great tight end and in most mock drafts is in the 6-9 pick range. Not too far behind Davis will be Jimmy Williams, the star cornerback out of Virginia Tech. Williams according to most will be in the Top 15 and right there alone gives the ACC four players in the Top 15. Now of course these are only mock drafts and something crazy might end up happening, but with almost certainty one can say that M. Williams, D. Ferguson, V. Davis, and J. Williams will all be in the Top 15 come draft day.

Two other players that might sneak into the Top 15 are the deadly defensive duo out of Florida State. Defensive tackle Broderick Bunkley and linebacker Ernie Sims both will likely be in the Top 20, and both have a realistic chance at making the Top 15. Florida State consistently puts some talent into the NFL and this year is clearly no different. Sims struggled at times this season with penalties, but most teams are unlikely to pass on such a tenacious defender like Sims.

Broderick Bunkley and Ernie Sims are not the only Florida State players likely to be taken in the first round though. Linebacker Kamerion Wimbley and cornerback Antonio Cromartie will both almost certainly be selected in the first round. Cromartie, a junior entry, has had major problems in the past with knee injuries but most teams appear willing to take a chance on a player that one possessed lightning quick speed. Wimbley on the other hand had a very solid senior campaign and although he is a bit undersized is a player that most teams like.

Right there alone you have eight ACC players in the first round, but there is still a strong possibility for more. The next man likely to be selected out of the ACC is cornerback Tye Hill out of Clemson. Hill is extremely quick and many consider him to be better than former Clemson Tiger and current New York Jet, Justin Miller. Hill’s speed will likely land him somewhere within the Top 25.

Despite their class not being as strong as usual, Miami still will be represented in the first round. One lock for Miami is wide receiver Sinorice Moss, the younger brother of Washington Redskins star Santana Moss. Moss has great quickness and good enough hands to get himself in the first round and a chance to play against his brother somewhere.

Another Hurricane that has a chance to be drafted in the first round is cornerback Kelly Jennings. At this point it’s up in the air regarding whether Jennings will be a late first rounder or an early second rounder. Jennings fits into certain schemes extremely well, but in others he is average at best. He really is one of those players that will end up being a surprise.

Next there is linebacker Manny Lawson out of N.C. State. Lawson is a bit of an enigma in that he is 6’5 and 241, but is still able to run a 4.43 40-yard dash. Lawson overall might not have the bulk to play as a linebacker or a defensive end in the NFL, but he certainly has the skills to play somewhere. Lawson if drafted in the first round will be in the 28-32 pick range.

Finally there is Mathias Kiwanuka out of Boston College. Kiwanuka, a star defensive end, was once believed to be a Top 15 pick, but recently has steadily dropped in most draft predictions. Kiwanuka has similar speed to Indianapolis’ Dwight Freeney, but has nowhere near the overall talent that Freeney has. Kiwanuka at this point is a likely early second rounder, but is right on the verge of making it to the first round. Most draft experts and NFL scouts are mixed on the potential of Kiwanuka, so there is certainly the chance that he sneaks into the first round.

There are plenty of other conferences that will likely be well represented in this draft. The Big 10 through Ohio State, the Pac-10 through Southern Cal, and the Big XII through Texas, all have some extremely good players set to be drafted. They all have great players, but not one of those conferences has the amount of quality and quantity that the ACC has. That’s the primary reason why the ACC is King of the NFL Draft for 2006.