Wake Forest Athletics
Tom Chosen in Fourth Round by Packers
4/30/2022 2:31:00 PM | Football
This is the third offensive lineman selected in the Dave Clawson era, all coming within the last four NFL Drafts.
WINSTON-SALEM, N.C. – The #ProDeacs family added its newest member when the Green Bay Packers chose offensive lineman Zach Tom with the 140th overall pick in the fourth round.
Tom is just the fifth Wake Forest player to ever be chosen by the Packers and the first since linebacker Jeremy Thompson was chosen in 2008 in the fourth round.
This is the third offensive lineman selected in the Dave Clawson era, all coming within the last four NFL Drafts. Phil Haynes was drafted by the Seattle Seahawks in the fourth round in 2019 and Justin Herron was selected by the New England Patriots in the sixth round of the 2020 draft.
Wake Forest has now had at least one pick in every NFL Draft since 2017, tying the second longest streak in the common NFL Draft era (since 1967). That streak matches the program's record of now six-straight bowl berths. Additionally during this streak, the Demon Deacons have had 28 players sign NFL contracts.
Additionally, a Demon Deacon has been drafted in the top four rounds in four of the last five years.
From Coach Clawson
"Zach Tom is truly one of the most elite and versatile offensive lineman that has come through our program. Along with anchoring our offensive line at left tackle and center over the past few years as we extended our bowl streak to six-straight which is the Atlantic Coast Conference's second-longest active run, Zach is a Demon Deacon graduate that and recently pursued his Master's in Business Administration from the Wake Forest School of Business. The Green Bay Packers are getting a technically sound football player that will be effective in the NFL for a long time."
From Zach Tom
"Getting the phone call man, that was like a dream come true. You work your whole life for that moment. And when it finally happened, I was just sitting there watching my family and it just feels like a dream. It didn't feel real and it was the biggest moment in my life. So just crazy. I don't have words to describe it. I'm looking forward to just getting into work. I'm just ready to go there, compete and I'll just get to work. That's what this is all for. So, yeah, that's exciting."
From Packers Co-Director of Player Personnel Jon-Eric Sullivan
"We feel like he's a five tool guy. He's obviously played left tackle at a high level at the school. He has played center. We think he can play guard as well. That was part of the exciting thing is the value at that pick. He's got twitch, he's got athleticism and he can bend. Some people question their size but when you watch him, he's got some innate strength and his ability to play the angles, move his feet, drop his backside and that bend allows him to play bigger than he potentially is. We're excited about the kid. He can help us in a lot of different spots, especially to get him there."
From Daniel Jeremiah of NFL Network
"He is someone with the versatility to play tackle or play center. When you think about what they've done scouting wise and the players they've added, Jon Runyan could play some tackle in college and play guard at the next level. Tom can really play any of the five positions. They love versatile players. He's an outstanding athlete, does a nice job getting his pads down, he can create some movement here in the run game here. He is out at left tackle and pass protection can really slide out cover up speed rushers got really good athleticism. Look at him rework his hands and drop his anchored late. He's going to give a little bit of ground early on before settling down late versus those power rushes. Here he is working against Jermaine Johnson against FSU. Big time competition. He's going up against him and holding his own there in that Florida State game but versatility that's their calling card in Green Bay."
From Charles Davis of NFL Network
"Head coach Dave Clawson told me that when he was at center, he had all line responsibility, sort of calls, checked everything and never let the quarterback have to deal with it. So, it took it all off the QB and he handled everything."
From Louis Riddick of ESPN
"I loved him at tackle and he could play tackle, but I think he could be an All-Pro interior player."
More on Tom
He appeared in 48 games over the course of his career, making 37 starts including all 36 over the last three seasons. Over the course of his career, Tom has played in 3,107 snaps and gave up just two sacks.
During his final season with the Demon Deacons, Tom was chosen as an All-American by Phil Steele, The Athletic and the Football Writers Association of America. He also captured the Jim Tatum Award, given to the top senior student-athlete in the conference while also earning First Team All-ACC status by league, coaches and press. He was listed on the Outland Trophy Preseason Watch List while also being named a Campbell Trophy Preseason Semifinalist, given to the top senior student-athlete in the country.
He was named ACC Offensive Lineman of the Week for the first time of his career following Wake Forest's win over Duke, which helped Wake Forest start the season 8-0, the best start in program history and the longest winning streak in program history. Additionally, he tallied more plays than any other Demon Deacon in 2021, finishing the year with 1,205 snaps.
The 2021 ACC Postgraduate Scholarship recipient was also a three-time member of the ACC All-Academic Team in 2019, 2020 and 2021 while also earning All-ACC honorable mention on the field in 2019.
According to PFF, he has the highest pass blocking grade at 92.1 percent of any FBS offensive lineman who has played over 25 snaps.
What's Out There?
Check out all the social media buzz around Zach Tom being selected by the Green Bay Packers.
EMBEDDED TWEETS/SOCIAL POSTS
𝙒𝙖𝙠𝙚 𝙁𝙤𝙧𝙚𝙨𝙩 ➡️ @packers
— Wake Forest Football (@WakeFB) April 30, 2022
Let's go, @zachtom5 🧀
#NFLDraft | #ProDeacs 🎩 pic.twitter.com/c7XIiUbZnb
The newest addition to the O-line.
— Green Bay Packers (@packers) April 30, 2022
Welcome to Green Bay, @zachtom5! 📰: https://t.co/UCyJReEBdu#PackersDraft | @SchneiderCareer pic.twitter.com/C44qc7XPQk
The Green Bay Packers pick Wake Forest Tackle Zach Tom at No. 140 overall.
— PFF Draft (@PFF_College) April 30, 2022
92.1 pass blocking grade in 2021 (1st among Power Five Tackles)💥 pic.twitter.com/X2Cd1OWkb0
#ShrineBowl ➡️ #NFL
— East-West Shrine Bowl (@ShrineBowl) April 30, 2022
Congrats to Zach Tom (@zachtom5) from @WakeFB on being selected by the @packers in the fourth round of the #NFLDraft.#ShrineBowlPRO | #PackersDraft | #GoPackGo pic.twitter.com/RMqtGK9PoX
Zach Tom had first round pick Jermaine Johnson in the torture chamber last season.
— Daire Carragher (@DaireCarragher) April 30, 2022
0 pressures allowed on 51 passing snaps versus Florida State. pic.twitter.com/IMR8SIxMDS
Packers bolster OL again with the versatile Zach Tom. https://t.co/79yfi3etQh
— Paul Bretl (@Paul_Bretl) April 30, 2022
Zach Tom might profile as an NFL center, but he says his game is modeled after left tackles Rashawn Slater and Terron Armstead "Guys who are really athletic," he says.
— Ryan Wood (@ByRyanWood) April 30, 2022
Tom says movement skills are foundation of his game.
