Gridiron Heroics partners with Draft Scout to give each school’s Top 5 NFL Draft prospects in the ACC. Welcome to a list of the Virginia Tech Top 5 NFL Draft prospects, as seen by Draft Scout.
Each week brings us closer and closer to one of the most anticipated days on the sports calendar — the NFL Draft. This year’s draft will be held in Kansas City, Missouri from April 27-29. Starting today? We take a look at the ACC seniors, the class of 2023. Since we don’t know yet which underclassmen will declare? We’ll reconfigure the rankings when that happens, so be sure to revisit us.
Our ACC Draft prospect series will begin November 7 and will run for the next week, with three schools running per day in alphabetical order. A master conference list of the ACC’s Top 20 NFL draft prospects will wrap things up on Monday, November 14. Please check the team links below frequently so you can check out the other schools’ top prospects as the week progresses.
ACC TOP 20 PROSPECTS: Overall ACC Top Prospect List
ACC ATLANTIC PROSPECTS: Boston College | Clemson | Florida State | Louisville | N.C. State | Syracuse | Wake Forest
ACC COASTAL PROSPECTS: Duke | Georgia Tech | Miami | North Carolina | Pittsburgh | Virginia | Virginia Tech
We’re even going to include Notre Dame in this preview!
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So, we all know that not every team in the country has five surefire draft picks on its roster. Some programs do, especially in some of the more elite conferences, but the vast majority don’t have that many top-flight prospects. But, we also know that the definition “top-flight” doesn’t always pan out, and at the same time that strong undrafted free agent everybody forgot? He ends up making an NFL and flourishing.
Below is a look at the Virginia Tech Top 5 Draft Prospects, and how they project in the eyes of Draft Scout. Again, for now, we’ll go strictly with seniors (class of 2023), as no underclassmen have been allowed to declare earlier yet, though when they do? We’ll update the lists below.
VIRGINIA TECH TOP 5 NFL DRAFT PROSPECTS
NO. 1 PROSPECT
NAME: Chamarri Conner (Free Safety)
DRAFTSCOUT PROJECTION: 6th-7th round
CAREER STATISTICS: Conner has 304 career tackles, 201 of which are solo. He has 21 tackles for loss and 7.5 sacks. He also has 4 interceptions and 4 forced fumbles. His 60 solo tackles in 2020 led the ACC and was 4th in the nation.
THE TRUTH: DraftScout has Conner listed as the 7th best player at his position. His is ranked 228 in the Top 350, and he is the only Hokie in that Top 350 list. His decision to return for a fifth season elevated his stock. He has tremendous athletic abilities to go along with his measurables (6’0″, 208 pounds, 4.5 in the 40-yard dash). He tackles well – and often – and his coverage has improved over the past two seasons. His ability to play in the box will likely result in a move to strong safety and he could grow into a role player on an NFL team.
NO. 2 PROSPECT
NAME: Dax Hollifield (Inside Linebacker)
DRAFTSCOUT PROJECTION: High Priority Free Agent
CAREER STATISTICS: Hollifield currently has 341 career tackles, 142 of which are solo. He has 28.5 tackles for loss and 11 sacks. His nose for the ball has led to 4 interceptions, 3 forced fumbles, and 3 fumble recoveries.
THE TRUTH: According to DraftScout, Hollifield is the 17th best inside linebacker available. His numbers are solid – 6’1″, 245 pounds, 4.75 in the 40-yard dash – but it is his physicality and intensity that will garner attention from the NFL this spring. He will likely reach 100 total tackles this year to put an exclamation mark on his fifth and final season as a Hokie. Hollifield is an emotional leader and leaves everything on the field, and it is easy to see him making a big NFL special teams play in the future.
NO. 3 PROSPECT
NAME: Nasir Peoples (Strong Safety)
DRAFTSCOUT PROJECTION: High Priority Free Agent
CAREER STATISTICS: In two seasons, Peoples has tallied 138 tackles, including 6.5 tackles for loss. He has one interception and one fumble recovery. His 86 tackles last season were good enough for second on the team.
THE TRUTH: Peoples’ numbers are impressive over just two seasons (22 games so far). He closes well in space and attacks downhill. He is the 28th ranked prospect at his position, but because of his size (6’0″, 205), speed (4.60/40-yard dash), and versatility (tackling and coverage), he could easily end up on a roster in the spring.
NO. 4 PROSPECT
NAME: Jadan Blue (Receiver)
DRAFTSCOUT PROJECTION: Preferred Free Agent
CAREER STATISTICS: Now in his 5th season, Blue has totaled 1771 receiving yards and 11 touchdowns. Most of that production came while he was at Temple in 2019, where he had 1067 receiving yards and 4 touchdowns.
THE TRUTH: Blue’s stock has dropped from that stellar sophomore season at Temple. He was once projected as a 4th-6th round pick. Now, unfortunately, he has been downgraded to a Preferred Free Agent tryout for about 20 NFL teams. While his overall numbers are down the past few seasons, he is averaging 11 yards per catch at Virginia Tech, and he runs a 4.47 in the 40-yard dash. He does possess elusiveness in space that could lead scouts to think he can replicate his 2019 performance with the right quarterback and the right system.
NO. 5 PROSPECT
NAME: Mario Kendricks (Defensive Tackle)
DRAFTSCOUT PROJECTION: Preferred Free Agent
CAREER STATISTICS: In four seasons as an interior lineman, Kendricks has tallied 48 tackles, almost half of which (22) were tackles for loss. He has also registered 5.5 career sacks.
THE TRUTH: Kendricks has Covid year available, but if he declares for the NFL, he has a chance to land a free agent offer. Although he has relatively few tackles, a good deal of them were behind the line of scrimmage. The 6’0″ 290 pounder commands attention in the middle and has speed off the ball. That could land him an invitation to some camps in the spring.
DARK HORSES
While this is the DraftScout list of the Virginia Tech Top 5 draft prospects, it only includes their consideration of the top five seniors. Wide Receiver Kaleb Smith, tight end Nick Gallo, and guard/tackle Silas Dzanzi are all seniors who will have an opportunity to join NFL offenses next summer.
On the defensive side of the ball, linebacker Alan Tisdale, defensive tackle Norell Pollard, and defensive end Tyjuan Garbutt also have the potential to continue to the next level. While none of these six players are likely to be drafted, they all could very easily sign free agent contracts in the spring and try to make a practice squad.
FINAL THOUGHTS
Since Frank Beamer took over the program in 1987, Virginia Tech has had at least two players selected in every draft – except for six. Three times (1991, 2009, 2020) only one Hokie was drafted, and three times (1989, 1993, 2019) none were selected.
At least one Virginia Tech player was taken every draft from 1994 through 2018. The likelihood of continuing the recent streak is in jeopardy right now, as only Chamarri Conner is projected, and his selection is not anticipated until the last round or two. That might change in the offseason if underclassmen declare early, but looking at Virginia Tech’s roster, they lack All-ACC performers. Thus it is unlikely that any underclassmen jump to the top of this list and that this draft forecast changes. But do check back later to see if we’re wrong!
To read more of my articles on Virginia Tech football, click here.
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