Wake Forest and the NFL Draft
4/22/2020 5:30:00 PM | Football
The Demon Deacons have a long history with the annual event, dating back to the 1939 NFL Draft
The Wake Forest Demon Deacons have a long history with the NFL Draft. This week more former Deacs will join the #ProDeacs family.
The 2020 NFL Draft will be televised live on ESPN, ABC and on the NFL Network. Round 1 starts this Thursday, April 23, at 8:00 p.m. ET. Rounds 2-3 will take place Friday, April 24, at 7:00 p.m. ET. Rounds 4-7 will follow on Saturday, April 25, at 12:00 p.m. ET.
From the Beginning
Wake Forest's draft history dates back to 1939 when guard Lou Trunzo became the first NFL draft pick in program history. Trunzo was taken in the 15th round by the Brooklyn Dodgers and would go on to play for the Portsmouth Cubs and Richmond Rebels in the Dixie Football League and American Football League.
For the next 14 years, at least one Demon Deacon was selected into the NFL including a program-best seven draft selections in 1953.
Six years after the first Wake Forest player was drafted into the league, Elmer Barbour became the first Deac to be chosen in the opening round. The blocking back and linebacker was selected 10th overall by the New York Giants. The 2003 Wake Forest Sports Hall of Fame inductee later went on to become an assistant coach for the Demon Deacons from 1956-60.
One of the players he helped groom in Winston-Salem went on to become the highest player ever chosen in the NFL Draft. After an illustrious career at Wake that included an All-American season as a senior, quarterback Norm Snead was taken with the second overall pick by the Washington Redskins in 1961.
Snead had an immediate impact with the Redskins, earning Pro Bowl selections in 1962 and 1963. He went on to be named to four Pro Bowls in his career, playing 15 seasons in the league.
Common Draft Era
Since the start of the Common Draft Era in 1970, Wake Forest has continually produced draft picks.
The Demon Deacons have also had at least one player picked in all but one draft since 2005.
During this stretch, the Deacs highest pick on the defensive side of the ball was taken. After helping Wake Forest to an ACC Championship in 2006 and earning All-American honors in 2007 and 2008, linebacker Aaron Curry was selected fourth overall by the Seattle Seahawks.
In his first two seasons he totaled 134 tackles and totaled 5.5 sacks.
Since 2000, three Wake Forest defensive players have been chosen in the opening round of the NFL Draft. This includes the Arizona Cardinals first-round selection in 2003, Calvin Pace. The defensive end, who was picked 18th overall, went on to play 13 seasons in the NFL while totaling 60.0 career sacks.
After signing with the New York Jets in 2008, he helped them advance to the AFC Championship game in 2009 and 2010.
Clawson Era
In the first season under the tutelage of head coach Dave Clawson, cornerback Kevin Johnson became the second cornerback off the board. After being taken 16th overall by the Houston Texans in 2015, Johnson helped them advance to the playoffs in his first two seasons on the roster.
This offseason Johnson signed a free agent deal with the Cleveland Browns.
A fellow defensive back, Jessie Bates III, became one of the centerpieces of the Cincinnati Bengals defense. He was taken in the second round by Cincinnati in 2018 and has become a budding star in the NFL.
He is the only player in the league to tally 100-plus tackles and intercept three or more passes in both the 2018 and 2019 season.
The latest member of the #ProDeacs was chosen last season by the Seattle Seahawks in the fourth round. Offensive lineman Phil Haynes helped the Seahawks advance to the playoffs in his rookie season before being eliminated in the divisional round by Green Bay.
Follow the #DeacsToThePros Here
GoDeacs.com will have full coverage of the NFL Draft as former Wake Forest players take their next step into the pros. Follow along right here on GoDeacs.com or by following along on our Twitter (@WakeFB), Instagram (wakefootball) and Facebook (WakeForestFootball) channels.
To join the conversation, use the hashtags #DeacsToThePros, #WakeForever and #GoDeacs.
The 2020 NFL Draft will be televised live on ESPN, ABC and on the NFL Network. Round 1 starts this Thursday, April 23, at 8:00 p.m. ET. Rounds 2-3 will take place Friday, April 24, at 7:00 p.m. ET. Rounds 4-7 will follow on Saturday, April 25, at 12:00 p.m. ET.
From the Beginning
Wake Forest's draft history dates back to 1939 when guard Lou Trunzo became the first NFL draft pick in program history. Trunzo was taken in the 15th round by the Brooklyn Dodgers and would go on to play for the Portsmouth Cubs and Richmond Rebels in the Dixie Football League and American Football League.
For the next 14 years, at least one Demon Deacon was selected into the NFL including a program-best seven draft selections in 1953.
Six years after the first Wake Forest player was drafted into the league, Elmer Barbour became the first Deac to be chosen in the opening round. The blocking back and linebacker was selected 10th overall by the New York Giants. The 2003 Wake Forest Sports Hall of Fame inductee later went on to become an assistant coach for the Demon Deacons from 1956-60.
One of the players he helped groom in Winston-Salem went on to become the highest player ever chosen in the NFL Draft. After an illustrious career at Wake that included an All-American season as a senior, quarterback Norm Snead was taken with the second overall pick by the Washington Redskins in 1961.
Snead had an immediate impact with the Redskins, earning Pro Bowl selections in 1962 and 1963. He went on to be named to four Pro Bowls in his career, playing 15 seasons in the league.
Common Draft Era
Since the start of the Common Draft Era in 1970, Wake Forest has continually produced draft picks.
The Demon Deacons have also had at least one player picked in all but one draft since 2005.
During this stretch, the Deacs highest pick on the defensive side of the ball was taken. After helping Wake Forest to an ACC Championship in 2006 and earning All-American honors in 2007 and 2008, linebacker Aaron Curry was selected fourth overall by the Seattle Seahawks.
In his first two seasons he totaled 134 tackles and totaled 5.5 sacks.
Since 2000, three Wake Forest defensive players have been chosen in the opening round of the NFL Draft. This includes the Arizona Cardinals first-round selection in 2003, Calvin Pace. The defensive end, who was picked 18th overall, went on to play 13 seasons in the NFL while totaling 60.0 career sacks.
After signing with the New York Jets in 2008, he helped them advance to the AFC Championship game in 2009 and 2010.
Clawson Era
In the first season under the tutelage of head coach Dave Clawson, cornerback Kevin Johnson became the second cornerback off the board. After being taken 16th overall by the Houston Texans in 2015, Johnson helped them advance to the playoffs in his first two seasons on the roster.
This offseason Johnson signed a free agent deal with the Cleveland Browns.
A fellow defensive back, Jessie Bates III, became one of the centerpieces of the Cincinnati Bengals defense. He was taken in the second round by Cincinnati in 2018 and has become a budding star in the NFL.
He is the only player in the league to tally 100-plus tackles and intercept three or more passes in both the 2018 and 2019 season.
The latest member of the #ProDeacs was chosen last season by the Seattle Seahawks in the fourth round. Offensive lineman Phil Haynes helped the Seahawks advance to the playoffs in his rookie season before being eliminated in the divisional round by Green Bay.
Follow the #DeacsToThePros Here
GoDeacs.com will have full coverage of the NFL Draft as former Wake Forest players take their next step into the pros. Follow along right here on GoDeacs.com or by following along on our Twitter (@WakeFB), Instagram (wakefootball) and Facebook (WakeForestFootball) channels.
To join the conversation, use the hashtags #DeacsToThePros, #WakeForever and #GoDeacs.
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