News & Observer | newsobserver.com | 2008 NCAA Men's Bracket

Photo credit: signonsandiego.com

• 2007 list
• 2006 list

Updated (9:18 a.m. and 4:16 p.m.): Totals include Koren Robinson's signing with Seattle and omissions 

The 12 ACC teams have produced 271 players currently in the NFL. That's on the actual roster, including the injured and supsended lists but not the practice squad, or a shot of espresso in training camp.

No surprise, Miami's the overall leader, with 46, and Duke is last, holding steady with three.

Of the total, 224 spent at least one season in the ACC. Forty-seven — from Miami (24), Virginia Tech (12) and Boston College (10) and one from Florida State (Brad Johnson) — did not play a down in the ACC but will no doubt soon be honored by the conference as "ACC Legends."

Among the interesting notes:

• If you are still trying to figure out how Virginia Tech went from ACC champs to possibly looking up at Carolina in the Coastal, you can stop. The Hokies' class of 2008 produced eight rookies and their overall roster number increased by 10 — the biggest jump in the ACC.

Their total (30) includes Michael Vick, who's in a federal penitentiary in Leavenworth, Kan. but is still on Atlanta's official roster, under the suspended section, but on the roster. (Note: Vick was on their 2007 roster, too, so that didn't affect VT's overall increase.)

Florida State took the biggest drop, by four players, despite adding three rookies to the league.

• The quarterbacks (11) are pulling away from the long snappers (six).

The conference really should market that as one of its selling points — "We produce the best long snappers!" — because the whole "conference domination is cyclical" argument doesn't work. If everything goes in a cycle, then when was the ACC the best conference?

And speaking of ACC marketing points, the ACC has produced 25 first-round picks since 2006, the most of any conference. You may have heard that stat trotted out to distract you from the conference's BCS record.

All those first-rounders yet the ACC still stinks. How is that?

Well, coaching has something to do with it, but look at the positions the ACC teams produce. Eighteen of the 25 picks are from the defensive side. Of the seven offensive players, only four play skill positions — QB Matt Ryan, WR Calvin Johnson and a couple of tight ends, Vernon Davis and Greg Olsen.

Where are the running backs? The quarterbacks, other than Ryan?

If you need steak, a guard or defensive end, the ACC's the league for you. But the sizzle? Look west, or south.

As far as the quarterbacks, four (San Diego's Philip Rivers, Atlanta's Ryan, Seattle's Matt Hasselbeck and Houston's Matt Schaub) of the 11 (not including Vick) start but only three actually played in the ACC.

As for the other seven, the biggest surprise has to be UNC's Matt Baker, who made Buffalo's roster, albeit on the injured list, but is still on the roster. Baker started one season at UNC (2005) before kicking around Dallas' practice squad in 2006 and the practice squads of Arizona and New Orleans in 2007.

The runner-up to Baker in the surprise category is Reggie Ball. Yes, that Reggie Ball. Except, he's not playing quarterback, he's on Detroit's roster as a wide receiver.

Ball's also on the injured reserve list but an NFL paycheck is an NFL paycheck which is something Georgia Tech fans never could have predicted for their consistently inconsistent quarterback.

• The table (see below) is why Jim Grobe is hands down the best coach in the ACC. Sorry, Frank Beamer.

• This is the third year of "ACC in the NFL" and I'm still waiting for the Clemson population explosion. Guess it's forth-coming with James Davis, C.J. Spiller, Jacoby Ford, Aaron Kelly and Ricky Sapp.

• I've never understood the "Virginia is for tight ends" rhetoric, linebackers sure and tackles maybe but TEs? The Hoos have two tight ends in the NFL — Pittsburgh's Heath Miller and Indy's Tom Santi — compared to five LBs and four tackles.

By that criteria, Clemson's a pipeline for cornerbacks.

• The all-too-brief Chuck Amato-John Bunting rivalry lives on with Chuck's recruits (16) doubling-up Bunting's (8) but UNC still holds the overall edge over State, 22 to 19. Thanks, Mack.

• Mansfield Wrotto wins the award for best name and most obscure ACCer, with Isaiah Ekejiuba as the runner-up in both categories. (Bonus points if you can name either's alma mater without looking at the list).

Note: x-denotes did not play in the ACC. Florida State's first season in the ACC was 1992, Miami and Virginia Tech's in 2004 and Boston College's in 2005.

Boston College (22)

Josh Beekman, OL, Chicago
Will Blackmon, CB, Green Bay
Ricky Brown, LB, Oakland
Tim Bulman, DT, Houston
x-Vinny Ciurciu, LB, Minnesota
x-Marc Colombo, T, Dallas
Gosder Cherilus, T, Detroit
Jo-Lonn Dunbar, LB, New Orleans
x-Matt Hasselbeck, QB, Seattle
x-Chris Hovan, DT, Tampa Bay
x-Pete Kendall, G, Washington
Mathias Kiwanuka, DE, N.Y. Giants
x-Dan Koppen, C, New England
James Marten, T, Oakland
x-Tom Nalen, C, Denver
Pat Ross, C, Arizona
Matt Ryan, QB, Atlanta
x-Brian St. Pierre, QB, Arizona
x-Chris Snee, G, N.Y. Giants
DeJuan Tribble, CB, San Diego
Jeremy Trueblood, T, Tampa Bay
x-Damian Woody, C, N.Y. Jets

Clemson (14)

Gaines Adams, DE, Tampa Bay
Nathan Bennett, G, Cleveland
Brian Dawkins, S, Philadelphia
Nick Eason, DE, Pittsburgh
Jamaal Fudge, CB, Atlanta
Leroy Hill, LB, Seattle
Tye Hill, CB, St. Louis
Phillip Merling, DE, Miami
Justin Miller, CB, N.Y. Jets
Trevor Pryce, DE, Baltimore
Barry Richardson, T, Kansas City
Chansi Stuckey, WR, N.Y. Jets
Anthony Waters, LB, San Diego
Charlie Whitehurst, QB, San Diego

Duke (3)

Ryan Fowler, LB, Tennessee
Lennie Friedman, G, Cleveland
Patrick Mannelly, LS, Chicago

Florida State (39)

Alex Barron, T, St. Louis
Anquan Boldin, WR, Arizona
Lorenzo Booker, RB, Philadelphia
Michael Bouleware, S, Minnesota
Derrick Brooks, LB, Tampa Bay
Milford Brown, G, Jacksonville
Brodrick Bunkley, DT, Philadelphia
Laveranues Coles, WR, N.Y. Jets
Antonio Cromartie, CB, San Diego
Buster Davis, LB, Indianapolis
Chauncey Davis, DE, Atlanta
Chris Davis, WR, Tennessee
Darnell Dockett, DT, Arizona
Warrick Dunn, RB, Tampa Bay
Andre Fluellen, DT, Detroit
Letroy Guion, DT, Minnesota
Geno Hayes, LB, Tampa Bay
Mario Henderson, T, Oakland
Montrae Holland, G, Dallas
Chris Hope, S, Tennessee
Dexter Jackson, S, Cincinnati
Sebastian Janikowski, K, Oakland
x-Brad Johnson, QB, Dallas
Travis Johnson, DT, Houston
Greg Jones, RB, Jacksonville
Walter Jones, T, Seattle
Bryant McFadden, CB, Pittsburgh
Travis Minor, RB, St. Louis
Eric Moore, DE, St. Louis
Samari Rolle, CB, Baltimore
Orpheus Roye, DE, Pittsburgh
Ernie Sims, LB, Detroit
William Thomas, T, Philadelphia
Lawrence Timmons, LB, Pittsburgh
Javon Walker, WR, Oakland
Leon Washington, RB, N.Y. Jets
Pat Watkins, S, Dallas
Ray Willis, T, Seattle
Kamerion Wimbley, LB, Cleveland

Georgia Tech (21)

Reggie Ball, WR, Detroit
Keith Brooking, LB, Atlanta
Durant Brooks, P, Washington
James Butler, S, N.Y. Giants
Tashard Choice, RB, Dallas
Mike Cox, FB, Kansas City
P.J. Daniels, RB, Baltimore
Andrew Economos, LS, Tampa Bay
Nick Ferguson, DB, Houston
John Paul Foschi, TE, Kansas City
Keyaron Fox, LB, Pittsburgh
Gary Guyton, LB, New England
Will Heller, TE, Seattle
Calvin Johnson, WR, Detroit
Dawan Landry, S, Baltimore
Michael Matthews, TE, N.Y. Giants
Chris Reis, S, New Orleans
Daryl Smith, LB, Jacksonville
Philip Wheeler, LB, Indianapolis
Gerris Wilkinson, LB, N.Y. Giants
Mansfield Wrotto, G, Seattle

Maryland (23)

Eric Barton, LB, N.Y. Jets
Jon Condo, LS, Oakland
Vernon Davis, TE, San Francisco
Jeff Dugan, FB, Minnesota
Melvin Fowler, C, Buffalo
Domonique Foxworth, CB, Denver
Jared Gaither, T, Baltimore
Isaiah Gardner, CB, Jacksonville
E.J. Henderson, LB, Minnesota
Erin Henderson, LB, Minnesota
Stephon Heyer, T, Washington
Sean Hill, QB, San Francisco
D'Qwell Jackson, LB, Cleveland
Kris Jenkins, DT, N.Y. Jets
LaMont Jordan, RB, New England
Shawne Merriman, LB, San Diego
Matt Murphy, TE, Buffalo
Nick Novak, K, Kansas City
Adam Podlesh, P, Jacksonville
Lewis Sanders, S, New England
Randy Starks, DT, Miami
Madieu Williams, CB, Minnesota
Josh Wilson, CB, Seattle

Miami (46)

Baraka Atkins, DE, Seattle
Jon Beason, LB, Carolina
Brock Berlin, QB, St. Louis
Kareem Brown, DT, N.Y. Jets
x-Phillip Buchanon, CB, Tampa Bay
Rashad Butler, T, Houston
Calais Campbell, DE, Arizona
x-Vernon Carey, T, Miami
x-Ken Dorsey, QB, Cleveland
x-Jeff Feagles, P, N.Y. Giants
x-Bubba Franks, TE, N.Y. Jets
Tavares Gooden, LB, Baltimore
Frank Gore, RB, San Francisco
Orien Harris, DT, Cincinnati
Devin Hester, WR, Chicago
x-Edgerrin James, RB, Arizona
Kelly Jennings, CB, Seattle
x-Andre Johnson, WR, Houston
x-Damione Lewis, DT, Carolina
x-Ray Lewis, LB, Baltimore
x-Darrell McClover, LB, Chicago
x-Jerome McDougle, DE, N.Y. Giants
x-Willis McGahee, RB, Baltimore
Rocky McIntosh, LB, Washington
x-Bryant McKinnie, T, Minnesota
Brandon Meriweather, S, New England
x-Santana Moss, WR, Washington
Sinorice Moss, WR, N.Y. Giants
Chris Myers, C, Houston
Greg Olsen, TE, Chicago
Roscoe Parrish, WR, Buffalo
Kenny Phillips, S, N.Y. Giants
x-Clinton Portis, RB, Washington
x-Ed Reed, S, Baltimore
Antrel Rolle, CB, Arizona
x-Brett Romberg, C, St. Louis
x-Jeremy Shockey, TE, New Orleans
Santonio Thomas, DT, Cleveland
x-Jonathan Vilma, LB, New Orleans
x-Reggie Wayne, WR, Indianapolis
x-Nate Webster, LB, Denver
x-Vince Wilfork, DT, New England
x-D.J. Williams, LB, Denver
Leon Williams, LB, Cleveland
x-Kellen Winslow, TE, Cleveland
Eric Winston, T, Houston

UNC (22)

Sam Aiken, WR, New England
Ethan Albright, LS, Washington
Matt Baker, QB, Buffalo
Kentwan Balmer, DT, San Francisco
Dre Bly, CB, Denver
Jason Brown, G, Baltimore
Alge Crumpler, TE, Tennessee
Ronald Curry, WR, Oakland
Ebenezer Ekuban, DE, Denver
Greg Ellis, DE, Dallas
Madison Hedgecock, FB, N.Y. Giants
Vonnie Holliday, DT, Miami
Willie Parker, RB, Pittsburgh
Julius Peppers, DE, Carolina
Jeff Reed, K, Pittsburgh
Jeff Saturday, C, Indianapolis
Gerald Sensabaugh, S, Jacksonville
Ryan Sims, DT, Tampa Bay
Hilee Taylor, DE, Carolina
David Thornton, LB, Tennessee
Greg Warren, LS, Pittsburgh
Wallace Wright, WR, N.Y. Jets

N.C. State (19)

Jerricho Cotchery, WR, N.Y. Jets
Leroy Harris, C, Tennessee
Torry Holt, WR, St. Louis
Marcus Hudson, CB, San Francisco
Scott Kooistra, G, Cincinnati
Manny Lawson, LB, San Francisco
Sean Locklear, T, Seattle
John McCargo, DT, Buffalo
DaJuan Morgan, S, Kansas City
DeMario Pressley, DT, New Orleans
Philip Rivers, QB, San Diego
Koren Robinson, WR, Seattle
Corey Smith, DE, Detroit
Pat Thomas, LB, Kansas City
Stephen Tulloch, LB, Tennessee
Tank Tyler, DT, Kansas City
Brian Williams, CB, Jacksonville
Mario Williams, DE, Houston
Adrian Wilson, S, Arizona

Virginia (21)

Branden Albert, T, Kansas City
Ronde Barber, CB, Tampa Bay
Darryl Blackstock, LB, Cincinnati
Ahmad Brooks, LB, San Francisco
Elton Brown, T, Arizona
Brad Butler, G, Buffalo
Chris Canty, DE, Dallas
Angelo Crowell, LB, Buffalo
Isaiah Ekejiuba, LB, Oakland
James Farrior, LB, Pittsburgh
D'Brickashaw Ferguson, T, N.Y. Jets
Marques Hagans, WR, Kansas City
Thomas Jones, RB, N.Y. Jets
Patrick Kerney, DE, Seattle
Chris Long, DE, St. Louis
Billy McMullen, WR, Seattle
Heath Miller, TE, Pittsburgh
John St. Clair, T, Chicago
Tom Santi, TE, Indianapolis
Matt Schaub, QB, Houston
Jason Snelling, RB, Atlanta

Virginia Tech (30)

Xavier Adibi, LB, Houston
James Anderson, LB, Carolina
Duane Brown, T, Houston
David Clowney, WR, N.Y. Jets
x-Andre Davis, WR, Houston
x-Anthony Davis, T, Tampa Bay
Jon Dunn, T, Detroit
Chris Ellis, DE, Buffalo
x-John Engleberger, DE, Denver
Brandon Flowers, CB, Kansas City
Vincent Fuller, S, Tennessee
x-Shayne Graham, K, Cincinnati
Eric Green, CB, Arizona
x-Jake Grove, C, Oakland
x-DeAngelo Hall, CB, Oakland
Justin Hamilton, S, Washington
x-Kevin Jones, RB, Chicago
Jeff King, TE, Carolina
x-Matt Lehr, G, New Orleans
Jonathan Lewis, DT, Jacksonville
Will Montgomery, G, N.Y. Jets
Josh Morgan, WR, San Francisco
Carlton Powell, DT, Denver
x-Pierson Prioleau, S, Jacksonville
Aaron Rouse, S, Green Bay
Eddie Royal, WR, Denver
x-Nick Sorensen, S, Cleveland
Darryl Tapp, DE, Seattle
x-Michael Vick, QB, Atlanta
x-Ernest Wilford, WR, Miami

Wake Forest (11)

Tyson Clabo, G, Atlanta
Desmond Clark, TE, Chicago
Steve Justice, C, Indianapolis
Eric King, CB, Tennessee
Ovie Mughelli, FB, Atlanta
Calvin Pace, DE, N.Y. Jets
Fred Robbins, DT, N.Y. Giants
Jeremy Thompson, DE, Green Bay
Jyles Tucker, LB, San Diego
Steve Vallos, G, Seattle
Joe Zelenka, LS, Jacksonville