Wake Forest NFL Draft Primer
4/27/2022 11:46:00 AM | Football
Learn all you need to know about the Demon Deacons ahead of the 2022 NFL Draft.
WINSTON-SALEM, N.C. – Welcome to NFL Draft week Demon Deacon Nation. We are just days away from finding out where your favorite Wake Forest football players start their pro careers.
This year's class of NFL hopefuls have been key in the Demon Deacons six-straight bowl appearances and one of the most successful stretches in program history. Additionally, this set of Demon Deacons helped the program capture both ACC Atlantic Division and Gator Bowl victories en route to a record tying 11 victories in 2021.
The talent that made those six postseason appearances possible has been evident throughout the draft process with multiple Wake Forest players being invited to the East-West Shrine Game Bowl, NFLPA Bowl, Hula Bowl and accepting invites to the NFL Combine.
Zach showed out in Indy 💪
— Wake Forest Football (@WakeFB) March 6, 2022
💨 4.94 40-yd dash
⬆️ 33.0 vert (2nd-best OL)
🦘 9'10 broad (2nd-best OL)
3⃣ 7.32 3-cone (3rd-best OL)
🏃♂️ 4.47 20-yd shuttle (4th-best OL)#NFLCombine 🎩 pic.twitter.com/SLL2yzdPmp
Watch Live
The draft will be televised live on ESPN, ABC and on the NFL Network. Round 1 starts this Thursday, April 28, at 8:00 p.m. ET. Rounds 2-3 will take place Friday, April 29, at 7:00 p.m. ET. Rounds 4-7 will follow on Saturday, April 30, at 12:00 p.m. ET.
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.
Dave Clawson NFL Draft Pedigree
The Demon Deacons could see a record number of players selected in the Clawson era this week during the annual draft festivities as four Deacs are projected to hear their names called.
Since 2017, Wake Forest holds the third-best record in the ACC with a record of 38-24 while also being one of just three schools during that time period to reach a bowl game every season. A large reason the Demon Deacons have been successful has been the NFL talent they have identified and developed in Winston-Salem.
The Demon Deacons have had at least one player get selected in each of the last five NFL Drafts, dating back to 2017 with the most recent coming a year ago when Carlos "Boogie" Basham Jr. was chosen in the second round by the Buffalo Bills:
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Kevin Johnson | 2015 NFL Draft | CB | First Round | Houston Texans
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Marquel Lee | 2017 NFL Draft | LB | Fifth Round | Oakland Raiders
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Jessie Bates III | 2018 NFL Draft | S | Second Round | Cincinnati Bengals
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Duke Ejiofor | 2018 NFL Draft | EDGE | Sixth Round | Houston Texans
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Phil Haynes | 2019 NFL Draft | OL | Fourth Round | Seattle Seahawks
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Justin Strnad | 2020 NFL Draft | LB | Fifth Round | Denver Broncos
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Justin Herron | 2020 NFL Draft | OL | Sixth Round | New England Patriots
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Carlos "Boogie" Basham Jr. | 2021 NFL Draft | EDGE | Second Round | Buffalo Bills
𝙒𝙖𝙠𝙚 𝙁𝙤𝙧𝙚𝙨𝙩 ➡️ @BuffaloBills
— Wake Forest Football (@WakeFB) May 1, 2021
Let's go, @Almighty_Basham #NFLDraft | #ProDeacs 🎩 pic.twitter.com/bjaEgcOcQG
Pro Day
Wake Forest Football welcomed representatives from every NFL division and nearly every NFL team to the turf of McCreary Football Field House on March 30 for 2022's edition of Wake Forest Pro Day.
Tight end Brandon Chapman, defensive lineman Miles Fox, defensive lineman Nasir Greer, defensive lineman Sulaiman Kamara, linebacker Luke Masterson, defensive back Traveon Redd, wide receiver Jaquarii Roberson, kicker Nick Sciba, wide receiver Donald Stewart, defensive back Ja'Sir Taylor, offensive lineman Zach Tom and defensive lineman Luiji Vilain will all competed as coaches, scouts and executives.
All @NFL eyes on the Deacs yesterday 👀#ProDeacs 🎩 pic.twitter.com/5Enyc3grGI
— Wake Forest Football (@WakeFB) March 31, 2022
There were a number of impressive performances from the Demon Deacons a month ago including eye popping numbers from wide receiver Jaquarii Roberson and defensive lineman Luiji Vilain that have helped raise their draft stock over the past few months.
Baller, @Luiji_V 😤#ProDeacs 🎩 pic.twitter.com/C8jmEoxd2O
— Wake Forest Football (@WakeFB) March 31, 2022
Have a day, @quarii25 🔥#GoDeacs 🎩 pic.twitter.com/r1iSZjmsQD
— Wake Forest Football (@WakeFB) March 31, 2022
