ACC in the NFL

• 2010 list

You don't have to look far to find ACC talent in the NFL.

Every team in the league has at least three players from ACC schools and the conference has a total 249 players in the league as the season begins tonight in Green Bay.

Despite a recent downturn on the field, Miami leads the ACC with NFL players with 44. For the first time since expansion, Maryland takes over the second spot with 28, edging Florida State, which is down to 25 from an ACC-best 46 in 2006, and North Carolina (24).

There are still 21 NFL players from Miami, Virginia Tech and Boston College who did not actually play in the ACC (Miami and Virginia Tech joined the league in 2004 and Boston College a year later).

The total of 249 is a six-year low for the league, down five from last year's opening-day total and 22 from the high-water mark or 271 in 2008.

The numbers for each team include players on the active 53-man roster, injured reserve and suspended lists but not from practice squads (or players who transferred out of the league).

Rosters are as of Wednesday, Sept. 7:

Observations from this year's list:

— Forty-six first-year players from the ACC made the NFL, including 11 from UNC. Eight of UNC's nine draft picks made the final cut (with linebacker Quan Sturdivant the exception) and three former Tar Heels made teams as undrafted free agents, perhaps none more surprising than defensive end Michael McAdoo.
McAdoo missed the entire 2010 season, the result of an academic fraud charge from the NCAA, and then missed the draft while he was pursuing legal measures to regain his eligibility.

He lost an injunction in a Durham court in June, which left him in the supplemental draft in August, where he was passed over by every team. The Baltimore Ravens invited him to camp, almost three weeks after it started, and McAdoo, who was a reserve defensive end for the Tar Heels as a sophomore in 2009, made the team. The Baltimore Sun reported Wednesday that he would end up on the practice squad but that's still an accomplishment, given his time away from the field and limited college career.

Despite the big class of rookies, UNC's total from last year only increased by two because veteran high-profile players, like former first-rounders Kentwan Balmer and Ryan Sims, did not make final rosters.

N.C. State's total decreased by one, to 14. The Wolfpack added rookie linebacker Nate Irving to the pool (and two veterans returned), but lost four players, including 2006 first-round pick John McCargo.

For the first time in six years, Duke's total went up, by one to four, with linebacker Vincent Rey joining quarterback Thad Lewis, veteran long-snapper Patrick Mannelly and linebacker Patrick Bailey.

— Sixty-two of the 249 players are former first-round picks, compared to 49 as undrafted free agents. Again Miami, leads with 20 first-rounders. Florida State and Virginia are tied for second with eight.

While the Hurricans continues to produce pro players, the dropoff — as with their overall record — in top-end talent has been significant. An incredible 12 players from Miami's 2001 national title team are still in the NFL, including  11 first-round picks. Pre-dating that roster, is a who's who of NFL players, led by Indianapolis receiver Reggie Wayne, Baltimore linebacker Ray Lewis.

The last three years, "The U" has churned out the likes of DeMarcus Van Dyke, Richard Gordon and Spencer Adkins, more of a "who?" list than the previous star-studded group.

— Maryland leads the ACC with 10 undrafted free agents in the NFL, including tight end Will Yeatman, a real "lmgtfy.com moment" for even the most astute of ACC observers. Yeatman, mostly a lacrosse player in college, transferred from Notre Dame and played one season of football at Maryland (catching 13 passes for 134 yards and touchdown in 2010).

UNC and Boston College both have seven undrafted free agents. Former Boston College linebacker, and cancer survivor Mark Herzlich, made the New York Giants roster in one of the best stories of training camp.

— Oakland and Houston qualify as commissioner John Swofford's favorite teams, in theory anyway, with 13 ACC players each, the most of any NFL teams.
The Texans are collecting ACC blockers and quarterbacks. They have five offensive linemen and two of the (Virginia veteran Matt Schaub and UNC rookie T.J. Yates) 11 ACC quarterbacks.

The New York Jets have the fewest ACC players, three, followed by Carolina and Cleveland with four each.

Boston College (21)
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Ron Brace, DT, New England (IR)
Tim Bulman, DE, Houston
Anthony Castonzo, T, Indianapolis
Ricky Brown, LB, Oakland
Jamie McCluskey, RB, Oakland (IR)
Antonio Garay, DT, San Diego
Damik Scafe, DE, San Diego
Alex Albright, LB, Dallas
Mark Herzlich, LB, N.Y. Giants
Mathias Kiwanuka, LB, N.Y. Giants
Gosder Cherilus, T, Detroit
Robert Francois, LB, Green Bay
B.J. Raji, DT, Green Bay
Matt Ryan, QB, Atlanta
Jo-Lonn Dunbar, LB, New Orleans
Matt Tennant, C, New Orleans
Jeremy Trueblood, T, Tampa Bay
x-Marc Colombo, T, Miami
x-Dan Koppen, C, New England
x-Matt Hasselbeck, QB, Tennessee
x-Chris Snee, G, N.Y. Giants

Clemson (21)
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Chris Hairston, T, Buffalo
C.J. Spiller, RB, Buffalo
Chris Clemons, S, Miami
Phillip Merling, DE, Miami
Thomas Austin, G, Houston
Kavell Conner, LB, Indianapolis
Jamie Harper, RB, Tennessee
Brian Dawkins, S, Denver
Barry Richardson, T, Kansas City
Jacoby Ford, WR, Oakland
Marcus Gilchrist, CB, San Diego
Jarvis Jenkins, DE, Washington (IR)
Michael Palmer, TE, Atlanta
Da'Quan Bowers, DE, Tampa Bay
Crezdon Butler, CB, Arizona
Nick Eason, DT, Arizona
Chansi Stuckey, WR, Arizona
Darell Scott, DT, St. Louis
Leroy Hill, LB, Seattle
Byron Maxwell, CB, Seattle
Charlie Whitehurst, QB, Seattle

Duke (4)
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Vincent Rey, LB, Cincinnati
Thad Lewis, QB, Cleveland
Patrick Bailey, LB, Tennessee
Patrick Mannelly, LS, Chicago

Florida State (25)
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Garrison Sanborn, LS, Buffalo
Antonio Cromartie, CB, N.Y. Jets
Anquan Boldin, WR, Baltimore
Bryant McFadden, CB, Pittsburgh
Lawrence Timmons, LB, Pittsburgh
Greg Jones, RB, Jacksonville
Chris Hope, S, Tennessee
Brodrick Bunkley, DT, Denver
Rodney Hudson, C, Kansas City
Sebastian Janikowski, K, Oakland
Kamerion Wimblery, LB, Oakland
Richard Goodman, WR, San Diego
Graham Gano, K, Washington
Markus White, LB, Washington
Andre Fluellen, DT, Detroit
Lorenzo Booker, RB, Minnesota
Letroy Guion, DT, Minnesota
Christian Ponder, QB, Minnesota
Antone Smith, RB, Atlanta
Patrick Robinson, CB, New Orleans
Alex Barron, T, New Orleans (IR)
Geno Hayes, LB, Tampa Bay
Dekoda Watson, LB, Tampa Bay
Darnell Docket, DT, Arizona
Leon Washington, RB, Seattle

Georgia Tech (18)
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Gary Guyton, LB, New England
Anthony Allen, RB, Baltimore
Michael Johnson, DE, Cincinnati
Jonathan Dwyer, RB, Pittsburgh
Philip Wheeler, LB, Indianapolis
Daryl Smith, LB, Jacksonville
Dawan Landry, S, Jacksonville
Derrick Morgan, DE, Tennessee
Demaryius Thomas, WR, Denver
Keith Brooking, LB, Dallas
Tashard Choice, RB, Dallas
Key Fox, LB, Washington
Will Heller, TE, Detroit
Calvin Johnson, WR, Detroit
Morgan Burnett, S, Green Bay
Vance Walker, DT, Atlanta
Andrew Economos, LS, Tampa Bay (IR)
James Butler, S, St. Louis

Maryland (28)
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Nolan Carroll, CB, Miami
Shawne Merriman, LB, Buffalo
Will Yeatman, TE, Miami
Randy Starks, DT, Miami
Domonique Foxworth, CB, Baltimore
Torrey Smith, WR, Baltimore
LaQuan Williams, WR, Baltimore
D'Qwell Jackson, LB, Cleveland
Adrian Moten, LB, Indianapolis
Lance Ball, RB, Denver
Jared Gaither, T, Kansas City
Bruce Campbell, G, Oakland
Jon Condo, LS, Oakland
Stephon Heyer, T, Oakland
Darrius Heyward-Bey, WR, Oakland
Phil Costa, C, Dallas
Da'Rel Scott, RB, N.Y. Giants
Moise Fokou, LB, Philadelphia
Kevin Barnes, CB, Washington
Josh Wilson, CB, Washington
Dan Gronkowski, TE, New England
Adam Podlesh, P, Chicago
Edwin Williams, G, Chicago
Shaun Hill, QB, Detroit
E.J. Henderson, LB, Minnesota
Erin Henderson, LB, Minnesota
Vernon Davis, TE, San Francisco
Madieu Williams, S, San Francisco

Miami (44)
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Roscoe Parrish, WR, Buffalo
Kelly Jennings, CB, Cincinnati
Rashad Butler, T, Houston
Brandon Harris, CB, Houston
Chris Myers, C, Houston
Darryl Sharpton, LB, Houston
Eric Winston, T, Houston
Colin McCarthy, LB, Tennessee
Orlando Franklin, T, Denver
Allen Bailey, DE, Kansas City
Richard Gordon, TE, Oakland
DeMarcus Van Dyke, CB, Oakland
Kenny Phillips, S, N.Y. Giants
Antrel Rolle, S, N.Y. Giants
Antonio Dixon, DT, Philadelphia
Leonard Hankerson, WR, Washington
Rocky McIntosh, LB, Washington
Devin Hester, WR, Chicago
Brandon Meriweather, S, Chicago
Jason Fox, T, Detroit
Randy Phillips, S, Detroit (IR)
Sam Shields, CB, Green Bay
Spencer Adkins, LB, Atlanta
Matt Bosher, K, Atlanta
Jon Beason, LB, Carolina
Greg Olsen, TE, Carolina
Jimmy Graham, TE, New Orleans
Calais Campbell, DE, Arizona
Tavares Gooden, LB, San Francisco
x-Vernon Carey, G, Miami
x-Vince Wilfork, DT, New England
x-Bryant McKinnie, T, Baltimore
x-Ed Reed, S, Baltimore
x-Andre Johnson, WR, Houston
x-Willis McGahee, RB, Denver
x-D.J. Williams, LB, Denver
x-Phillip Buchanon, CB, Washington
x-Jeremy Shockey, TE, Carolina
x-Jonathan Vilma, LB, New Orleans
x-Kellen Winslow, TE, Tampa Bay
x-Frank Gore, RB, San Francisco
x-Reggie Wayne, WR, Indianapolis
x-Santana Moss, WR, Washington
x-Ray Lewis, LB, Baltimore

UNC (24)
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Da'Norris Searcy, S, Buffalo
Johnny White, RB, Buffalo
Brandon Tate, WR, Cincinnati
Mike McAdoo, DE, Baltimore
Greg Little, WR, Cleveland
Greg Warren, LS, Pittsburgh
T.J. Yates, QB, Houston
Jeff Saturday, C, Indianapolis
Alan Pelc, G, Oakland (IR)
Cam Thomas, DT, San Diego
Jesse Holley, WR, Dallas
Gerald Sensabaugh, S, Dallas
Bruce Carter, LB, Dallas (IR)
Hakeem Nicks, WR, N.Y. Giants
Marvin Austin, DT, N.Y. Giants (IR)
Julius Peppers, DE, Chicago
Ryan Taylor, TE, Green Bay
Garrett Reynolds, T, Atlanta
Connor Barth, K, Tampa Bay
Zack Pianalto, TE, Tampa Bay
E.J. Wilson, DE, Tampa Bay (IR)
Vonnie Holliday, DE, Arizona
Jason Brown, C, St. Louis
Robert Quinn, DE, St. Louis

N.C. State (14)
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Manny Lawson, LB, Cincinnati
Jerricho Cotchery, WR, Pittsburgh
Mario Williams, LB, Houston
Leroy Harris, G, Tennessee
Nate Irving, LB, Denver
Philip Rivers, QB, San Diego
Brian Williams, CB, N.Y. Giants
Sean Locklear, G, Washington
Stephen Tulloch, LB, Detroit
Willie Young, DE, Detroit
Scott Kooistra, T, Minnesota (IR)
Ted Larsen, C, Tampa Bay
Adrian Wilson, S, Arizona
Steven Hauschka, K, Seattle

Virginia (22)
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Danny Aiken, LS, New England
Ras-I Dowling, CB, New England
D'Brickashaw Ferguson, T, N.Y. Jets
Cedric Peerman, RB, Cincinnati
James Farrior, LB, Pittsburgh
Heath Miller, TE, Pittsburgh
Matt Schaub, QB, Houston
Eugene Monroe, T, Jacksonville
Nate Collins, DT, Jacksonville
Branden Albert, T, Kansas City
Thomas Jones, RB, Kansas City
Darryl Blackstock, LB, Oakland
Kevin Ogletree, WR, Dallas
John Phillips, TE, Dallas
Chris Canty, DE, N.Y. Giants
Clint Sintim, LB, N.Y. Giants
Isaiah Ekejiuba, LB, Detroit
Chris Cook, CB, Minnesota
Jason Snelling, RB, Atlanta
Ronde Barber, CB, Tampa Bay
Chris Long, DE, St. Louis
Ahmad Brooks, LB, San Francisco

Virginia Tech (20)
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Ed Wang, T, Buffalo (IR)
Tyrod Taylor, QB, Baltimore
Jason Worilds, LB, Pittsburgh
Duane Brown, T, Houston
Roc Charmichael, CB, Houston
Darren Evans, RB, Indianapolis
Eddie Royal, WR, Denver
Brandon Flowers, CB, Kansas City
Darryl Tapp, DE, Philadelphia
Will Montgomery, G, Washington
Xavier Adibi, LB, Minnesota
Carlton Powell, DT, Atlanta
James Anderson, LB, Carolina
Cody Grimm, S, Tampa Bay
Jeff King, TE, Arizona
Ryan Williams, RB, Arizona (IR)
Josh Morgan, WR, San Francisco
Kam Chancellor, S, Seattle
x-Michael Vick, QB, Philadelphia
x-DeAngelo Hall, CB, Washington

Wake Forest (8)
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Calvin Pace, LB, N.Y. Jets
Steve Vallos, T, Cleveland
Alphonso Smith, CB, Detroit
Tyson Clabo, T, Atlanta
Ovie Mughelli, FB, Atlanta
Joe Zelenka, LS, Atlanta
Fred Robbins, DT, St. Louis
Aaron Curry, LB, Seattle

Note: x-did not play in the ACC

Bonus teams:

East Carolina (8)
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Willie Smith, T, Washington
Chris Johnson, RB, Tennessee
Linval Joseph, DT, N.Y. Giants
C.J. Wilson, DE, Green Bay
Guy Whimper, T, Jacksonville
Terrance Copper, WR, Kansas City
Vonta Leach, FB, Baltimore

Appalachian State (5)
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Armanti Edwards, WR, Carolina
Corey Lynch, S, Tampa Bay
Jason Hunter, DE, Denver
D.J. Smith, LB, Green Bay
Daniel Kilgore, G, San Francisco

Photo credit: AP