Clemson Football: Three things to watch in the First Round of the NFL Draft
As the NFL Draft kicks off tonight, many college football fans will be tuning in to see where players from their schools end up. Clemson is a team used to hearing its players named called early in the draft, with 13 players selected in the first round over the past decade. Here are some things to watch for in the first round on Thursday.
Myles Murphy is looking to become the 14th Clemson Tiger drafted in the first round in the past decade.
Where will Myles Murphy end up?
The floor for the former Clemson defensive end appears to be Seattle at No. 20. There's a great group of edge rushers in this, helmed by Alabama's Will Anderson and Texas Tech's Tyree Wilson. If there's a run early on pass rushers, Murphy could hear his name called earlier. After missing the NFL Combine and Clemson's Pro Day, Murphy impressed at a private pro day.
Can Bryan Bresee sneak in at the end of the first round?
Bresee came to Clemson as one of the top prospects in America, but injuries kept him from ever reaching his full potential in college. When healthy, Bresee was a force. He was named the ACC's Rookie of the Year in 2020 and earned Freshman All-American honors. Based on his size and potential, he's projected to go somewhere in the top 40, but a team could fall in love with him as a prospect and pick him Thursday night.
Will any other ACC schools have a player selected in the first round?
While Myles Murphy seems like a lock, the rest of the ACC could be left out of the first round of the NFL Draft. Two players to watch out for are Boston College's Zay Flowers and Pitt's Calijah Kancey. Flowers is an explosive weapon in the slot, but his size - 5-foot-9 - could scare some teams off. Kancey has made a surge in the pre-Draft process. Teams love the pressure he can generate from the inside.
The NFL Draft begins on April 27th from 8-11 p.m. (Round 1). April 28th from 7-11:30 p.m. (Rounds 2-3). April 29th from Noon-7 p.m. (Rounds 4-7). The Draft will air on the NFL Network, ESPN, ABC, and ESPN Deportes.
