Five lesser-hyped ACC players with strong NFL draft grades
Not surprisingly, the early 2023 NFL mock drafts have been full of players such as Ohio State quarterback C.J. Stroud, Alabama quarterback Bryce Young, Crimson Tide linebacker Will Anderson and Georgia defensive lineman Jalen Carter.
But there are plenty of other top prospects who aren’t getting much, if any, love in those early mock drafts and top prospect lists. To help get you up to speed, On3 will go conference-by-conference and identify some lesser-hyped NFL draft prospects who currently have early-round grades from scouts.
Today, we look at five players from the ACC. We already detailed six such players from the SEC, five from the Big 12 and six from the Big Ten. The players are listed alphabetically.
Louisville senior CB Kei’Trel Clark
The buzz: Kei’Trel Clark has been an All-ACC selection each of the past two seasons after transferring from Liberty. Clark (5 feet 10, 180 pounds) had 40 tackles, three interceptions and 12 pass breakups in nine games last season before suffering a season-ending ACL injury. Feedback gathered by On3 about Clark has been in the Day 2 range.
Clemson junior DT Ruke Orhorhoro
The buzz: Clemson could end up with six defensive linemen taken in next year’s NFL draft. That includes two top prospects – Bryan Bresee and Myles Murphy – and two others – Tyler Davis and Ruke Orhorhoro – garnering feedback in the third- to fourth-round range. Orhorhoro (his last name is pronounced “Oh-roh-roh-roh”) broke out last year once Clemson lost Bresee to a season-ending injury in Game 4. After playing just 117 total snaps on defense in his first two years on campus, Orhorhoro (6-4, 295) had 42 tackles, eight tackles for loss and 2.5 sacks last season. He is a native of Nigeria who went to high school in the Detroit area.
Wake Forest senior WR A.T. Perry
The buzz: Only two wide receivers finished last season with at least 70 catches, 15 touchdown receptions and an average of better than 18 yards per catch — Detroit Lions first-round pick Jameson Williams and A.T. Perry. Perry had 71 receptions for 1,293 yards (18.2 per catch) and 15 touchdowns. Scouts view Perry (6-5, 206), who again will work with QB Sam Hartman, as a Day 2 prospect.
Miami junior CB Tyrique Stevenson
The buzz: Tyrique Stevenson emerged as one of the ACC’s top cornerbacks last year after spending his first two seasons at Georgia. Stevenson, an All-ACC honorable mention selection, had 43 tackles and an interception in 2021. Scouts currently have Stevenson (6-0, 214) with Day 2 NFL draft grades.
Virginia junior WR Dontayvion Wicks
The buzz: Dontayvion Wicks ranked 14th nationally last season in receiving yardage (100.3 yards per game). He also ranked first in yards per catch (21.1) among the 96 Power 5 players with at least 55 catches. Scouts have tabbed Wicks (6-1, 206) as a Day 2 draft prospect.