CLEMSON in the NFL

Vic Beasley drafted #8 overall in 2015 NFL Draft


by - Assoc. Editor -

Clemson defensive end Vic Beasley Vic Beasley
Defensive End (2010 - 2014)
#3 6-2, 236
Adairsville, GA

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was drafted #8 overall by the Atlanta Falcons during the first round of the 2015 NFL Draft on Thursday night.

The Falcons were Beasley's favorite NFL team since his childhood years. The NFL team was desperate for pass rushing help as they were 30th out of 32 teams last season in sacks.

Beasley was the third straight first round pick the last three years from Clemson (Hopkins and Watkins).

Beasley accumulated 33 sacks (25 sacks in his final 26 games) and leaves Clemson as the all-time sack leader and had an amazing 52.5 tackles for loss at Clemson. He was also a two-time first-team All-American and was selected as the ACC Defensive Player of the Year in 2014.

"He's easily the best athlete of the edge guys," said NFL Network's Mike Mayock right after Beasley's selection. "He came to the combine at 246 lbs, bench pressed 225 lbs 37 times, ran faster than anyone else, jumped 42 inches. His first step is outstanding. I think what he is day one is a situational pass rusher while he learns to set an edge."

"He reminds me a lot of Dante Fowler when I was watching him on film - very active, high motor, and will sack the quarterback," said NFL Network's Steve Mariucci.

TheACC.com's take on Vic Beasley: "Beasley’s freakish athletic ability compares relatively well to former ACC superstar, Julius Peppers. In fact, Beasley’s 40-yard-dash time of 4.53 seconds was better than Peppers’ time of 4.68. Both players have relatively large hands, at about 10 inches each. Obviously, Vic Beasley is not as big as Julius Peppers but they both share similar athleticism and explosiveness out of the gate."

Beasley helped the 2014 Tigers lead the nation in total defense, pass efficiency defense, fewest first downs allowed, tackles for loss, tackles for loss yardage, sack yardage, third down defense, fewest yards for pass attempt, few yards for play allowed and fewest plays 10+ yards allowed.

An AJC Falcons’ fans poll asked, “Who should the Falcons take with the 8th overall pick in the draft?” The fans wanted Beasley out of all the defensive end players in the 2015 NFL Draft despite Todd McShay and other analysts downgrading Beasley's abilities.

Vic Beasley, Clemson 35.79% (2,429 votes)

Dante Fowler, Jr, Florida 32.83% (2,228 votes)

Bud Dupree, Kentucky 10.56% (717 votes)

Other: 8.21% (557 votes)

Randy Gregory, Nebraska 7.03% (477 votes)

Shane Ray, Missouri 5.58% (379 votes)

Sammy Watkins (2014), Gaines Adams (2007) and Banks McFadden (1940) remain the highest selected Clemson football NFL draft picks of all-time at #4 overall.

Official Clemson Bio: Defensive end who emerged as one of the top pass rushers in the country in 2013 and was the same in 2014 ... one of the team’s most athletic players ... had 101 tackles, 52.5 tackles for loss, 33 sacks, 29 quarterback pressures, 11 pass breakups, seven caused fumbles, two recovered fumbles and two touchdowns in 1,421 snaps over 48 games (25 starts) in his career ... first in school history in sacks, fourth in tackles for loss and tied for seventh in caused fumbles ... had at least one sack in eight consecutive games from 2013 (2) to 2014 (6) ... was involved in a tackle for loss in each of his last 15 games ... two-time, first-team All-American ... two-time, First-Team All-ACC selection.

Clemson First-Round Draft Choices

Year	Player			Pos	Pick	Team

1939 Banks McFadden B 4 Brooklyn Dodgers

1949 Bobby Gage RB 6 Pittsburgh Steelers

1960 Lou Cordileone L 12 New York Giants

#Harvey White QB NA New England Patriots

1976 Bennie Cunningham TE 28 Pittsburgh Steelers

1979 Jerry Butler WR 5 Buffalo Bills

Steve Fuller WR 23 Kansas City Chiefs

1980 Jim Stuckey DT 20 San Francisco 49ers

1982 Jeff Bryant DT 6 Seattle Seahawks

Perry Tuttle WR 19 Buffalo Bills

1983 Terry Kinard FS 10 New York Giants

1985 William Perry MG 22 Chicago Bears

1987 Terrence Flagler TB 25 San Francisco 49ers

1989 Donnell Woolford CB 11 Chicago Bears

1992 Chester McGlockton DT 16 Los Angeles Raiders

1993 Wayne Simmons OLB 15 Green Bay Packers

1997 Trevor Pryce DE 28 Denver Broncos

1998 Anthony Simmons ILB 15 Seattle Seahawks

1999 Antwan Edwards CB 25 Green Bay Packers

2001 Rod Gardner WR 15 Washington Redskins

2006 Tye Hill CB 15 St. Louis Rams

2007 Gaines Adams DE 4 Tampa Bay Bucs

2010 C.J. Spiller RB 9 Buffalo Bills

2013 DeAndre Hopkins WR 27 Houston Texans

2014 Sammy Watkins WR 4 Buffalo Bills

#not considered first round selection by NFL because he was an AFL selection.

Clemson’s Highest Football Draft Choices

Year Player Pos Pick Team

1939 Banks McFadden B 4 Brooklyn Dodgers

2007 Gaines Adams DE 4 Tampa Bay Bucs

2014 Sammy Watkins WR 4 Buffalo Bills

1979 Jerry Butler WR 5 Buffalo Bills

1949 Bobby Gage RB 6 Pittsburgh Steelers

1982 Jeff Bryant DT 6 Seattle Seahawks

2010 C.J. Spiller RB 9 Buffalo Bills

1983 Terry Kinard FS 10 New York Giants

1989 Donnell Woolford CB 11 Chicago Bears

1960 Lou Cordileone L 12 New York Giants

Clemson’s Highest Draft Choices in Any Sport

Year Name Sport Team #

1996 Kris Benson Baseball Pittsburgh Pirates 1

2001 Mark Lisi Men’s Soccer D.C United 3

2014 Sammy Watkins Football Buffalo Bills 4

1940 Banks McFadden Football Brooklyn Dodgers 4

1996 Billy Koch Baseball Toronto Blue Jays 4

2007 Daniel Moskos Baseball Pittsburgh Pirates 4

2007 Gaines Adams Football Tampa Bay Bucs 4

1979 Jerry Butler Football Buffalo Bills 5

1982 Jeff Bryant Football Seattle Seahawks 6

1949 Bobby Gage Football Pittsburgh Steelers 6

1994 Sharone Wright Basketball Philadelphia 76ers 6

2003 Deliah Arrington Women’s Soccer Philadelphia 6

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