University of North Carolina Athletics
Carolina NFL Draft Notebook
May 6, 2014 | Football
UNC Draft News & Notes
? Over the last three NFL drafts, Alabama (12) and North Carolina (9) have had more players selected in the first two rounds than any other schools in the country.
? Tight end Eric Ebron is expected to be a first round draft pick by most NFL draft analysts. ?If so, he will become the 23rd overall first round pick in school history and the seventh since 2008. ?
? The Tar Heels had first-round picks in 2008 (Kentwan Balmer, 29th overall), 2009 (Hakeem Nicks, 29th overall), 2011 (Robert Quinn, 14th overall), 2012 (Quinton Coples, 16th overall) and 2013 (Jonathan Cooper, 7th overall; Sylvester Williams, 28th overall)
Most First-Round NFL Draft Picks in ACC Since 2008
6 - Carolina - 2008, 2009, 2011, 2012, 2013 (2)
5 - Boston College - 2008 (2), 2009, 2011, 2012
5 - Florida State - 2010, 2011, 2013 (3)
3 - Virginia - 2008 (2), 2009
3 - Notre Dame - 2012 (2), 2013
2 - Georgia Tech - 2010 (2)
2 - Pittsburgh - 2008, 2011
2 - Virginia Tech - 2008, 2012
2 - Clemson - 2010, 2013
2 - Syracuse - 2012, 2013
1 - Miami - 2008
1 - Louisville - 2009
1 - Wake Forest - 2009
1 - Maryland - 2009
0 - Duke
0 - NC State
? The last time a Carolina tight end was picked in the NFL Draft was 2011 when Ryan Taylor was nabbed by the Green Bay Packers in the seventh round. ?The highest a Tar Heel tight end has been picked was 35th overall when Alge Crumpler was selected by Atlanta in the second round of the 2001 draft.
UNC Tight End Draft History
2011 - Ryan Taylor, 7th Round, Green Bay
2009 - Richard Quinn, 2nd Round (64th overall), Denver
2001 - Alge Crumpler, 2nd Round (35th overall), Atlanta
1997 - Freddie Jones, 2nd Round (45th overall), San Diego
1992 - Deems May, 7th Round, San Diego
1986 - Arnold Franklin, 11th Round, Miami
1978 - Brooks Williams, 8th Round, New Orleans
1975 - Charles Waddell, 5th Round, San Diego
1971 - Tony Blanchard, 12th Round, Cleveland?
? North Carolina has produced six first-round draft picks since 2008. That is the most of any ACC school. Boston College and Florida State rank second with five.In the first round of the 2013 NFL Draft, North Carolina offensive guard Jonathan Cooper was selected seventh overall by the Arizona Cardinals and defensive tackle Sylvester Williams was picked 28th overall by the Denver Broncos. ?
? Carolina's Top 10 draft picks are Ken Willard (No. 2 in 1965), Lawrence Taylor (No. 2 in 1981), Peppers (No. 2 in 2002),?Ken Huff (No. 3 in 1975), Ryan Sims (No. 6 in 2002), Jonathan Cooper (No. 7 in 2013) and Greg Ellis (No. 8 in 1998).
? Since the NFL/AFL merger in 1970, Buffalo has selected 13 Tar Heels in the draft. ?Most recently, Buffalo selected safety Da'Norris Searcy and running back Johnny White in 2011. ?This year, the Bills have the ninth overall pick. ?Since 1970, Dallas has selected eight Tar Heels and San Diego and the New York Giants have eached picked seven. ?The franchise with the fewest Carolina draft picks is Pittsburgh with just one (Rick Donnalley in third round of 1981 draft)
? Carolina has had 22 all-time first-round draft picks, which ranks just outside the top 25 in the country. It is, however, the most of any school in the state, ahead of NC State (15), Duke (5) and Wake Forest (4).
? Half (11) of Carolina's 22 all-time first-round draft picks have been defensive linemen. Over the last 18 years, a Carolina defensive lineman has been selected in the first round on 10 occasions.
? In 2013, Giovani Bernard became the first running back taken in the NFL Draft when he was selected by the Cincinnati Bengals with the fifth pick of the second round (37th overall). It was the first time Carolina had produced the first tailback of the draft. Ethan Horton, a running back at UNC, was selected in the first round of the 1985 draft, but played exclusively tight end in the NFL.
? A total of 25 Carolina players have been selected in the NFL Draft since 2008, which equals the most of any ACC school. Carolina is tied with Clemson and Florida State. Two Tar Heels were picked in the 2008 draft, five in 2009, two in 2010, a league-high nine in 2011, two in 2012 and five in 2013.
Most Draft Picks in ACC Since 2008
25 - North Carolina
25 - Clemson
25 - Florida State
24 - Miami
22 - Virginia Tech
20 - Notre Dame
15 - NC State
14 - Wake Forest
14 - Pittsburgh
13 - Georgia Tech
11 - Louisville
11 - Virginia
11 - Maryland
11 - Syracuse
8 - Boston College
1 - Duke
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