Wednesday, January 16, 2013
ACC NFL draft early entrant list
By Andrea Adelson
The deadline for underclassmen to enter the NFL draft has passed.
So here is a quick look at who is going and who is staying in the ACC.
Leaving early
- David Amerson, cornerback, NC State
- Giovani Bernard, running back, North Carolina
- DeAndre Hopkins, receiver, Clemson
- Xavier Rhodes, cornerback, Florida State
- Menelik Watson, offensive tackle, Florida State
- Bjoern Werner, defensive end, Florida State
Sticking around
- Jeremiah Attaochu, linebacker, Georgia Tech
- Tajh Boyd, quarterback, Clemson
- Antone Exum, cornerback, Virginia Tech
- Christian Jones, linebacker, Florida State
- Lamarcus Joyner, safety, Florida State
- James Gayle, defensive end, Virginia Tech
- Seantrel Henderson, offensive tackle, Miami
- Brandon Linder, offensive guard, Miami
- Curtis Porter, defensive line, Miami
- Logan Thomas, quarterback, Virginia Tech
Of the underclassmen declaring early, Werner is the only one rated among the top 32 prospects by Scouts Inc. But Mel Kiper lists Bernard as the top junior running back available 
; Hopkins as the No. 3 junior receiver; Amerson as the No. 4 junior cornerback and Rhodes as the No. 5 junior cornerback. Watson is the only player not rated at the Top 5 at his position.
As for the group of players staying, it certainly is an impressive bunch. You have the ACC Player of the Year in Boyd; an All-ACC first-team selection in Joyner; and second-team All-ACC picks in Gayle, Exum and Jones. Interestingly enough, Kiper has Exum rated higher than Amerson and Rhodes -- two players that declared for the draft.
