National Football League

2016 NFL Draft: ACC players to watch

Published May. 10, 2015 12:43 p.m. ET

foxsports

The ACC had 47 players picked in the 2015 NFL Draft, highlighted by the No. 1 overall pick and eight additional first-rounders. Those lofty numbers aren't likely to be repeated in 2016 -- certainly not the number of first-round picks -- but the ACC still has a chance to have a deep draft yet again next year.

There are already mock drafts floating around for 2016, which is odd considering NFL teams have yet to play even a preseason game, but big boards for the projected '16 class have already been floating around on the Internet for years anyway.

Here are some hot prospects from the ACC that are likely to garner attention from NFL teams, and some under-the-radar guys to keep an eye on:

Jalen Ramsey, CB, Florida State: He has a very good chance to be the first ACC player drafted. Ramsey has been the best player on that Florida State defense for arguably the last year and a half or so, dating back to FSU's national title run in 2014. Part linebacker, part safety and part cornerback, the versatile and smart FSU defensive leader is going to make one NFL team very happy next season.

Kendall Fuller, CB, Virginia Tech: The Fuller brothers are all very good, but Kendall, the youngest, might be the best of the three. He's going to be a junior next season, so he could return for his senior year, but he's also a first-round talent. If he has the kind of year he's capable of, that would be hard to turn down.

Tyler Boyd, WR, Pittsburgh: Boyd will be a junior next year, and the timing could not be more perfect if he decides to go pro. Next year's class of wide receivers isn't going to be nearly as deep and as strong as this year's, and Boyd has a chance to be the first wide receiver taken if he goes. He's big enough (6-foot-2) and plenty fast, and when you break Larry Fitzgerald's records as a freshman in 2013, you're going to catch a lot of eyes.

Nate Andrews, S, Florida State: Along with Ramsey and other experienced returners, Andrews is going to help bolster an experienced secondary for the Seminoles, one that should be a bit better as FSU's pass rushers improve. Andrews is going to be a junior, so his decision will depend on his draft stock after this season. But if the last few drafts are any indication, the NFL loves drafting FSU talent.

Mackensie Alexander, CB, Clemson: He's only going to be a redshirt sophomore this year, but obviously he'd have met his requisite three years, should he decide to leave after this season. He was one of the best cornerbacks in the ACC as a redshirt freshman last year and while there's going to be some drop-off on that defense considering all the talent that's gone, it's not likely to be too substantial. A big season could get the talented sophomore into the first few rounds.

Reggie Northrup, LB, Florida State: The rising senior linebacker is still recovering from offseason ACL surgery (he tore it in the Rose Bowl), but he made third-team All-ACC last year as a junior and helped provide some quality play at a position that was not very good as a whole for FSU a season ago. The injury may hurt his draft stock, but he'll have plenty of time to prove he can still play.

James Conner, RB, Pittsburgh: Conner is going to be a junior next season, but considering the pounding his body has already taken, he'll likely leave school as long as his stock is high enough after next year. This past draft showed that teams aren't afraid to take running backs high, but you never know how trends will change. Conner is strong, powerful and fast, an ideal combination for any back.

Jeremy Cash, S, Duke: Cash gave consideration to leaving early this past year, but he didn't like the feedback he was getting about where he was projected. He's one of the best safeties in the country, not to mention the ACC, and if he repeats the types of seasons he's had at Duke so far, his stock will just continue to rise.

Mike Williams, WR, Clemson: The NFL loves boom-or-bust wide receivers. Williams is much more boom than bust, in spite of spending about half of last season with Cole Stoudt at quarterback. If big-play threat and sophomore star Deshaun Watson can stay healthy behind center, that tandem could be lethal.

Adam Gotsis, DT, Georgia Tech: Perhaps one of the more underrated returning defensive players in the ACC, he came to Georgia Tech a raw talent that's developed into an elite pass rusher. He has size, strength and speed, and he's helped Georgia Tech's defense make some pretty significant improvements. If he has a big senior year, he has a real chance to go in the first few rounds.

Dadi Nicolas, DE, Virginia Tech: Nicolas considered leaving early, but didn't like the grades he was getting in terms of his projected draft spot. He is sort of a tweener in that he'll probably be drafted to play linebacker in the NFL (he's too small to be a defensive end), but he's going to be an elite speciality pass-rusher at the next level. He's gotten better and better each year, and he's on track to have a huge season.

James Burgess, LB, Louisville: Plenty of Louisville defensive players have been drafted over the past two seasons, and Burgess considered leaving last season as a junior. He had 71 tackles, three interceptions and 10 tackles for loss a year ago, and those numbers should only improve. Louisville's defense won't be quite what it was in 2015, but it's still going to be very good.

Others to watch: Jayron Kearse, CB, Clemson; Shaq Lawson, DE, Clemson; Charone Peake, WR, Clemson; Braxton Deaver, TE, Duke; Roberto Aguayo, K, Florida State; Chris Casher, DE, Florida State; Terrance Smith, LB, Florida State; Tyler Hunter, S, Florida State; Jamal Golden, S, Georgia Tech; DeVonte Fields, DE, Louisville; Sheldon Rankins, DE, Louisville; Stacy Coley, WR, Miami; Deon Bush, S, Miami; Tracy Howard, CB, Miami; Quinshad Davis, WR, North Carolina; Landon Turner, OG, North Carolina; Jacoby Brissett, QB, NC State; Hakim Jones, S, NC State; Alex Barr, OG, NC State; Terrel Hunt, QB, Syracuse; Trey Edmunds, RB, Virginia Tech; Brandon Facyson, CB, Virginia Tech