National Football League

2017 NFL Draft: 5 Best Prospects in ACC Championship Game

Published Jun. 30, 2017 6:28 p.m. ET

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These five players stand out as the five best 2017 NFL Draft prospects playing in the ACC Championship Game for Clemson or Virginia Tech.

The 2016 ACC Championship Game kicks off on Saturday night with the No. 3 ranked Clemson Tigers (11-1) and the Virginia Tech Hokies (9-3) squaring off at Camping World Stadium in Orlando, Fla.

The game has a lot on the line for the Tigers as a win seals their return to the College Football Playoff and a chance to earn a spot to play for a national championship. To be one of those final four teams left standing after this weekend, a team must possess future NFL talent, and the Tigers sure have that going for them.

Everyone knows the Tigers have a top quarterback prospect in Deshaun Watson, but there are others to talk about too from the talented roster of players, including wide receiver Mike Williams.

This game will have more than just two big names, though they will be mentioned in this list. Here are the five best prospects playing in the ACC Championship Game on Saturday night.

Nov 26, 2016; Blacksburg, VA, USA; Virginia Tech Hokies wide receiver Isaiah Ford (1) runs the ball against Virginia Cavaliers safety Wilfred Wahee (28) during the second quarter at Lane Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Peter Casey-USA TODAY Sports

5. Isaiah Ford, WR — Virginia Tech

Virginia Tech’s Isaiah Ford is one of the 10 best wide receivers in this draft class and, in this ACC Championship, he’ll be a player all of us must watch. Ford is projected to be a second-round pick and, with the speed he possesses, he won’t be going anytime after Day 2, especially with the way every team in the league can’t have enough talent at wide receiver.

Dane Brugler of CBS Sports wrote this earlier in the season about the NFL-type talent Ford will bring to a franchise:

“Although he might not be elite in any one area, his short-area quickness, field vision and production have attracted NFL attention.”

He’s not being projected as a superstar—those are rare in the NFL, anyway—but if he can become a wide receiver who can be a solid player a team can depend on, that will go a long way. Another step in that process is doing so against a defense like Clemson in the ACC Championship.

Ford will most likely be facing NFL prospect Cordrea Tankersley, so that will be a matchup we will not just see on Saturday night, but possibly on Sundays in the near future.

Oct 27, 2016; Pittsburgh, PA, USA; Virginia Tech Hokies tight end Bucky Hodges (7) makes a catch against Pittsburgh Panthers defensive back Ryan Lewis (38) during the second half at Heinz Field. Virginia Tech won 39-36. Mandatory Credit: Charles LeClaire-USA TODAY Sports

4. Bucky Hodges, TE — Virginia Tech

Virginia Tech has a solid NFL prospect in Bucky Hodges, a tight end who is projected to be a first- to second-round choice. The 6-6, 245-pound Hodges is seen as a player who has all of the physical tools in his arsenal that he’d need to be a force at the next level.

The profile from CBS Sports states:

“What makes Hodges special is his raw combination of size, strength and athleticism. He is a classic mismatch, towering over the defensive backs often asked to cover him and proving too fast for most linebackers.”

Finding a quality tight end for an NFL roster is a big feat to achieve. If you don’t think so, take a look at the roster of the New England Patriots with Martellus Bennett and Rob Gronkowski. Having Bennett on the roster with Gronkowski now out for the rest of the season is a big factor in their continued success.

A player like Hodges, who has 42 receptions for 598 yards and seven touchdowns this season, could be the next Bennett or even Gronkowski. Hodges possesses everything an NFL team would like to have on their roster, though he does need to improve his blocking skills. Hodges will impress on Saturday night and how much he impresses scouts against a team like Clemson could go a long way for his future and for what round he’s drafted.

Dec 31, 2015; Miami Gardens, FL, USA; Clemson Tigers cornerback Cordrea Tankersley (25) breaks up a pass to Oklahoma Sooners tight end Mark Andrews (81) during the second quarter of the 2015 CFP semifinal at the Orange Bowl at Sun Life Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Steve Mitchell-USA TODAY Sports

3. Cordrea Tankersley, CB — Clemson

A third Clemson player who must be watched closely is cornerback Cordrea Tankersley. The 6-1, 200-pound defensive back is part of an exceptionally deep 2017 draft class at cornerback, but he could be a solid second-round pick, potentially sneaking into the first.

ESPN Insider‘s draft profile had this to say of the cornerback:

“Doesn’t play with great physicality but doesn’t shy away from contact either. Willing to step up and put body in harm’s way to make a play when teams run at him.”

At one point this season from early October to early November, he had no fewer than five tackles in four straight games, including six against Syracuse on Nov. 5. That is also the game he had his lone interception of the season. This season, Tankersley also has nine passes defensed.

Tankersley is a fifth-year senior, and the Pro Football Focus Analysis Team thinks very highly of him, saying he possesses the traits that the modern NFL is looking for. And it’s true. When you look at his experience and progression over his time at Clemson in addition to his obvious physical tools, there’s plenty of upside for Tankersley at the next level

Though all of the spotlight will be on the Clemson offense Saturday, remember the defense has some stars, too.

Nov 19, 2016; Winston-Salem, NC, USA; Clemson Tigers wide receiver Mike Williams (7) runs after a catch in the first quarter against the Wake Forest Demon Deacons at BB&T Field. Mandatory Credit: Jeremy Brevard-USA TODAY Sports

2. Mike Williams, WR — Clemson

Clemson’s top wide receiver could be the best wide receiver in the draft and having a top-ranked quarterback prospect throwing him passes doesn’t hurt his chances to have a solid game in the ACC Championship, either.

Williams has the stats and skill set to be a quality NFL receiver, especially with five games of at least 100 yards receiving in 2016, including a game against Pittsburgh where he caught 15 passes for 202 yards and one touchdown. In his most recent game against South Carolina, Williams caught six passes for 100 yards and three touchdowns.

When a wide receiver has a game like that, there is a lot to be said about him. Chase Goodbread of NFL.com wrote this of Williams and how he could transition to the NFL:

“Williams is at his best when he’s fighting for contested throws, using his size (6-foot-3, 225 pounds) and superior ball skills to beat smaller cornerbacks for big gains … Williams is a proven star, and Clemson coach Dabo Swinney insists he’ll be the first wide receiver drafted in April.”

Saying any player is going to be a top pick at any position is a big thing to say, but with Williams, he does have the height and weight to turn some heads in the NFL and Swinney could be correct in his assessment of Williams.

Nov 19, 2016; Winston-Salem, NC, USA; Clemson Tigers quarterback Deshaun Watson (4) runs the ball during the game against the Wake Forest Demon Deacons at BB&T Field. Clemson defeated Wake 35-13. Mandatory Credit: Jeremy Brevard-USA TODAY Sports

1. Deshaun Watson, QB — Clemson

Clemson quarterback Deshaun Watson has been either the first- or second-ranked quarterback in this draft class all season long. This season, he’s done nothing but prove he’s maybe the most talented quarterback headed to the next level. But there is still doubt by some who aren’t sure he’ll be a top-five pick, even though he’s being projected as a first-round selection.

The 6-2, 215-pound Watson reportedly has four teams that will be at the ACC Championship Game to scout him: the Chicago Bears, Cleveland Browns, Miami Dolphins and San Francisco 49ers, per a report by Chase Goodbread of NFL.com.

Watson is also in the running for the Heisman Trophy and a solid performance against Virginia Tech on Saturday could really increase his chances for that award, though it is going to take a lot to pass Louisville quarterback Lamar Jackson in that race.

Though it is still an uncertainty where and when Watson will be drafted, it is also easy to say he’ll be one of, if not the best player on the field Saturday night, and eventually he’ll either set himself apart from the rest of the quarterbacks in the upcoming draft or it will be a winter full of deciding where he’ll fit in the NFL.

As for the game Saturday, Watson will put on a show of excellent quarterback play and we’ll see if he has either taken a step back or if he’s ready to have a late charge in pursuit of winning the ACC championship and getting back to the College Football Playoff.