GREENSBORO, N.C. (theACC.com) – Four Atlantic Coast Conference football players were selected in the first round of the 2023 National Football League Draft Thursday night in Kansas City.
Pitt All-America defensive tackle Calijah Kancey was the first ACC player off the board at No. 19 overall. Kancey was the 15th unanimous All-American in program history following a tremendous 2022 season and the Panthers’ first since Aaron Donald in 2013. He was named ACC Defensive Player of the Year and a finalist for the prestigious Outland Trophy (nation's top interior lineman) and Bronko Nagurski Trophy (national defensive player of the year). Kancey compiled 31 tackles, 14.5 tackles for loss and 7.5 sacks in 11 games played. His 14.5 TFLs led the nation’s interior defenders.
Boston College wide receiver Zay Flowers was chosen 22nd overall by the Baltimore Ravens. Flowers became the first BC receiver drafted since 1987 and first skill position player taken in the first round since 2008. A three-time All-ACC selection and first-team honoree in 2022, he finished as BC’s all-time leader in career and single-season receptions, receiving yards and receiving touchdowns. He was a third-team AP All-American in 2022 with 78 catches for 1,077 yards and 12 touchdowns. Flowers finished the season with five 100-yard receiving games and two 10-reception games. He leaves BC as the Eagles’ all-time leader with 200 receptions, 3,056 receiving yards and 29 receiving touchdowns.
Clemson defensive end Myles Murphy was taken 28th overall by the Cincinnati Bengals. Murphy was a two-time All-ACC honoree, including a first-team All-ACC pick in 2022. He was credited with 45 tackles (11.0 for loss), a team-high-tying 6.5 sacks, three pass breakups and a forced fumble in 13 games (11 starts).
Clemson defensive tackle Bryan Bresee was the No. 29 pick of the first round by New Orleans Saints. Bresee was a three-time All-ACC honoree and was a second-team All-ACC selection in 2022. A Lott IMPACT Trophy quarterfinalist this season, Bresee was credited with 16 tackles (5.5 for loss), 3.5 sacks and two pass breakups in 10 games (seven starts).
Syracuse offensive tackle Michael Bergeron (Atlanta), Georgia Tech edge Keion White (New England) and Miami’s Tyrique Stevenson (Chicago) all were second-round picks. Five ACC players went in the third round on Friday: Syracuse cornerback Garrett Williams (Arizona), North Carolina wide receiver Josh Downs (Indianapolis), Louisville defensive end YaYa Diaby (Tampa Bay), Clemson linebacker Trenton Simpson (Baltimore) and Wake Forest defensive tackle Kobie Turner (Los Angeles).
Twenty ACC players went in rounds four through seven on Saturday, including 10 in the fifth round.
The ACC finished with 32 picks representing 13 different institutions. Clemson and Pitt led all ACC teams with six selections apiece, followed by North Carolina (4), Louisville (3), Miami (3), Syracuse (2), Wake Forest (2), Boston College (1), Florida State (1), Georgia Tech (1), NC State (1), Virginia (1) and Virginia Tech (1).
ACC Selections in the 2023 NFL Draft
Rd. – Overall Pick, Name, Position, School, NFL Team
1 – 19th, Calijah Kancey, DT, Pitt, Tampa Bay Buccaneers
1 – 22nd, Zay Flowers, WR, Boston College, Baltimore Ravens
1 – 28th, Myles Murphy, DE, Clemson, Cincinnati Bengals
1 – 29th, Bryan Bresee, DT, Clemson, New Orleans Saints
2 – 38th, Matthew Bergeron, OT, Syracuse, Atlanta Falcons
2 – 46th, Keion White, Edge, Georgia Tech, New England Patriots
2 – 56th, Tyrique Stevenson, CB, Miami, Chicago Bears
3 – 72nd, Garrett Williams, CB, Syracuse, Arizona Cardinals
3 – 79th, Josh Downs, WR, North Carolina, Indianapolis Colts
3 – 82nd, YaYa Diaby, DE, Louisville, Tampa Bay Buccaneers
3 – 86th, Trenton Simpson, LB, Clemson, Baltimore Ravens
3 – 89th, Kobie Turner, DT, Wake Forest, Los Angeles Rams
4 – 114th, Chandler Zavala, G, NC State, Carolina Panthers
4 – 119th, Chamarri Conner, CB, Virginia Tech, Kansas City Chiefs
4 – 120th, Carter Warren, OT, Pitt, New York Jets
5 – 136th, Yasir Abdullah, LB, Louisville, Jacksonville Jaguars
5 – 137th, KJ Henry, Edge, Clemson, Washington Commanders
5 – 143rd, Israel Abanikanda, RB, Pitt, New York Jets
5 – 145th, Jammie Robinson, S, Florida State, Carolina Panthers
5 – 153rd, SirVocea Dennis, LB, Pitt, Tampa Bay Buccaneers
5 – 156th, Jordan McFadden, G, Clemson, Los Angeles Chargers
5 – 159th, Dontayvion Wicks, WR, Virginia, Green Bay Packers
5 – 162nd, Will Mallory, TE, Miami, Indianapolis Colts
5 – 169th, Asim Richards, OT, North Carolina, Dallas Cowboys
5 – 175th, Davis Allen, TE, Clemson, Los Angeles Rams
6 – 180th, Kei’Trel Clark, CB, Louisville, Arizona Cardinals
6 – 195th, A.T. Perry, WR, Wake Forest, New Orleans Saints
6 – 208th, Erick Hallett, DB, Pitt, Jacksonville Jaguars
7 – 219th, Antoine Green, WR, North Carolina, Detroit Lions
7 – 227th, Raymond Vohasek, DT, North Carolina, Jacksonville Jaguars
7 – 246th, D.J. Ivey, DB, Miami, Cincinnati Bengals
7 – 248th, Brandon Hill, S, Pitt, Houston Texans