With the 2014 NFL draft kicking off on Thursday, several former ACC players look forward to hearing their names called and finding out where their home will be at the next level. As usual, Florida State will continue to pump talent into the NFL, but a couple other ACC schools have also become regulars in sending players to the pros.
Over the last five years, North Carolina and Clemson have had more players selected in the NFL draft than any other ACC program. The Tigers and the Tar Heels each had 23 players selected between 2009-13, both edging the Seminoles by one player. Miami is also near the top with 21 Hurricanes being taken during that span.
Below is a chart that breaks down how many players have been drafted from every ACC school over the last five years:
A few observations:
*Wake Forest, which compiled a 27-35 record in seasons before the last five drafts, produced five more draft picks than Louisville, which posted a 34-29 mark and a Sugar Bowl victory during the same time period.
*Although recent Duke standouts Thad Lewis and Vincent Rey have seen meaningful NFL action, Sean Renfree was the only Blue Devil selected in the last five drafts.
*No player from Pittsburgh has been drafted since 2011.
*Stephen Hill is the only Paul Johnson recruit to be picked out of Georgia Tech.