NFL
By: Greg Rector
Much like I did earlier with the Big Ten top twenty draft picks, here comes my current top ten players in the Atlantic Coast Conference. The ACC has many good players, yet most won’t be considered as high up on most draft analyst’s lists because the teams in the ACC are not as highly ranked as most fans expect. Again, this list isn’t guaranteed to be starters or even first-round draft picks.
Cam Ward- Quarterback Miami
Ward is easily the reason the Hurricanes are ranked in the top ten nationally. Ward is an older quarterback, though saying he should be in round one is a bit of a stretch. He will turn 23 before the 2025 NFL Draft. He changed his mind about coming into the 2024 draft, and this season at Miami has worked out very well for him.
Omarion Hampton-Running Back UNC
As I said in my earlier piece regarding the 2025 NFL Draft, there are many more running backs in this draft class than in the 2024 NFL draft. Hampton is a downhill runner who can be a complex man to tackle. His footwork has improved, and he will be a solid volume running back.
Oronde Gadsen II- Tight End Syracuse
Gadsen is yet another pass-receiving tight end who can play as a wide receiver. He is 6’5″, 225lb, and needs to add some weight to play in the NFL. He missed the 2023 season because of a Lisfranc injury.
Barrett Carter- Linebacker Clemson
Carter might be the first linebacker off the board. He has excellent blitzing ability, hits the gaps, and plays well in nickel packages. His abilities are sought after, especially when passing downs are in play. Carter stands at 6’1″ and weighs 230 lbs. His Senior Bowl and the draft combine may find him moving up the draft boards.
Patrick Payton – Edge Florida State
Yes, we all realize the Seminoles’ struggles so far in the 2024 season. Payton, though, is an outstanding Edge player. He was the ACC Defensive Rookie of the Year in 2022. He’s a 6’5″, 250lb monster coming off the edge, and he does a decent job of setting the edge against the run.
Elic Ayomnor – Wide Receiver Stanford
Here is a particular player. It’s not just because he’s an excellent wide receiver. This man is remarkable because he is like me and is Canadian. He grew up in Medicine Hat, Alberta, three hours east of where I live. Almost everyone knows what he did to Colorado and Coach Prime last season. If not, he caught 13 passes, had 274 yards, and scored three TDs, and Stanford beat Colorado. His touchdown in overtime, he went over Travis Hunter’s head and caught the ball. Here is making an incredible one-handed catch for another TD. His 6’2″ 210lb frame is ideal, and his speed is awfully good.
Ashton Gillete- Edge Louisville
Gillette might be much like Ya Ya Diaby, drafted on day two. The 6’3″ 275lb edge player has the skills to be an excellent rotational piece. His Senior Bowl and the draft combine will matter most. I pray he doesn’t get to hit Riley Leonard this weekend against Notre Dame. He was terrific last season for the Cardinals when Louisville pounded the Fighting Irish.
Bryson Nesbit- TE North Carolina
Nesbit is a rangy tight end who was Drake Maye’s favorite target. He stands at 6’5″ and 230lb and needs to grow to make an enormous impact in the NFL. Nesbit has speed, excellent bends, and superb route-running skills.
Jonas Sanker- Safety Virginia
Sanker has the prerequisite size at 6’1″ and weighs 210lbs. He can play nickel or safety, meaning NFL teams will be drooling over him. He is nowhere near as good as Malaki Starks, the Georgia safety, but if you need a safety later on the draft, Sarker will be an excellent choice. He produced 107 tackles, had four tackles for loss, and had 11 pass breakups in 2023.
Jaydn Ott – Running Back California
Ott has great speed, and when he finds the open field, he does not come down. His best asset for me is as a pass catcher out of the backfield. He has tremendous vision out of the backfield and can nicely escape tacklers.
As of today, these ten players from the ACC will be drafted at the 2025 NFL Draft, which will be held in Green Bay.
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