FLOWERY BRANCH – There could be as many as five players with local ties selected in the first round of the NFL draft on Thursday.
The group of local players projected to be selected in the first round include Clemson linebacker Vic Beasley (Adairsville), Kentucky defensive end Bud Dupree (Wilkinson County), Georgia running back Todd Gurley, Florida State offensive lineman Cameron Erving (Colquitt County) and Central Florida wide receiver Breshad Perriman (Arabia Mountain High in Lithonia).
Here’s where players with Georgia ties are projected to be selected in the NFL draft by nfldraftscout.com. In some cases, they were projected to go in the third or fourth round as was the case with South Carolina running back Mike Davis, but we listed him in higher round. The draft will be held Thursday through Saturday in Chicago:
FIRST ROUND
Vic Beasley, DE, Clemson, Adairsville High.
Bud Dupree, LB, Kentucky, Wilkinson County
Toddy Gurley, RB, Georgia
Cameron Erving, OT, Florida State, Colquitt County
Breshad Perriman, WR, Central Florida, Arabia Mountain High (Lithonia, Ga)
SECOND ROUND
Rashad Greene WR, Florida State, St. Thomas Aquinas/Albany Westover
Grady Jarrett, DT, Clemson, Rockdale County High
Preston Smith, DL, Mississippi State, Stephenson High
Lorenzo Mauldin, DE, Louisville, Maynard Jackson High
THIRD ROUND
Henry Anderson, DE, Stanford, Woodward Academy, 6-6, 287)
Chris Conley, WR, Georgia
Mike Davis, RB, South Carolina, Stephenson High
Tre McBride, WR, William & Mary, Ola High from McDonough
Steven Nelson, CB, Oregon State, Northside, Warner Robbins, Ga.
FOURTH ROUND
Ramik Wilson, LB, Georgia
Xzavier Dickson, LB, Alabama, Griffin High
Gabe Wright, DT, Auburn, Columbus Carver High
FIFTH ROUND
Derrick Lott, DE, Tennessee-Chatt, North Cobb (6-4, 303)
Shaquille Mason, C/OG, Georgia Tech
Austin Shepherd, OT, Alabama, Buford High
Damian Swann, CB, Georgia
Darren Waller, WR, Georgia Tech
Zach Hodges, DE, Harvard, (Exeter Academy/Tri-Cities)
SIXTH ROUND
Mario Alford, WR, West Virginia, Greenville
Geremy Davis, WR, Connecticut, Norcross
Justin Coleman, DB, Tennessee, Brunswick High
Corey Crawford, DE, Clemson, Columbus Carver High
Max Garcia, C, Florida, Norcross
SEVENTH ROUND
Rory “Busta” Anderson, TE, South Carolina, McEachern High
Trenton Brown, OL, Florida, Albany Westover
Ray Drew, DE, Georgia
DeAndre Smelter, WR, Georgia Tech
Amarlo Herrera, LB, Georgia
Nick Marshall, QB/DB, Auburn, Wilcox County High
Zach Laskey, FB, Georgia Tech
Blake Sims, QB, Alabama, Gainesville High
FREE AGENT CANDIDATES
Detrick Bonner, FS, Virginia Tech, McDonough Luella High
Garry Peters, CB, Clemson, Heritage High
Neiron Ball, OLB, Florida, Jackson
Keith Mumphery, WR, Michigan State, Dooly County (Vienna, Ga)
Isaiah Johnson, S, Georgia Tech
Quayshawn Nealy, LB, Georgia Tech,
Synjyn Days, RB, Georgia Tech
Mike Thornton, DT, Georgia, Stephenson
Tory Slater, DT/DE, West Georgia, Chapel Hill
Norman Hayes, FS, Harvard, Tucker
Jonathon Mincy, CB, Auburn, Southwest DeKalb
James Vaughters, DE/OLB, Stanford , Tucker
Gary Wilkins Jr., LB, Furman, Alcovy
FALCONS DRAFT BOARD
5 questions with Boise State running back Jay Ajayi
5 questions with Miami offensive lineman Ereck Flowers
5 questions with Minnesota tight end Maxx Williams
5 questions with Oklahoma tight end Blake Bell
Kentucky's Bud Dupree vs. Nebraska's Randy Gregory
5 questions with Nebraska's Randy Gregory
5 questions with Kentucky's Bud Dupree
5 questions with Missouri's Shane Ray
5 questions with Clemson's Vic Beasley
5 questions with Alabama safety Landon Collins
5 questions with Alabama quarterback Blake Sims
5 questions with Florida defensive end Dante Fowler Jr.
5 questions with Oregoan DL Arik Armstead
5 questions with Miami inside linebacker Denzel Perryman
Falcons go to check out several Miami Hurricanes
Some of the attendees to the Falcons locals day
ATLANTA FALCONS 2015 DRAFT PICKS
First round: 8th overall selection
Second round: 42nd overall selection
Third round: 73rd overall selection
Fourth round: 107th overall selection
Fifth round: 146th overall selection
Sixth round: 185th overall selection
Seventh round: 225th overall selection
Seventh round: 249th overall selection*
*Pick is from New England through St. Louis
POSITION-BY-POSITION FOR 2015 NFL DRAFT
Wednesday: Top 5 Inside Linebackers
Miami linebacker Denzel Perryman ,
Thursday: Top 5 defensive tackles
(Leonard Williams' Rugby skill will become handy in the NFL)
Friday: Top 5 defensive backs
Alabama's Landon Collins is the top safety prospect
Saturday: Top 5 special teamers
Dorsett, Alford could be top returners
Sunday: Top 5 edge rushers (defensive ends/outside linebackers).
Big Chuck Smith breaks down the top pass-rush prospects
Monday: Top 5 Offensive line
Georgia Tech's Shaquille Mason trying to convert to center for NFL
Tuesday: Top 5 Wide receivers
Georgia's Chris Conley now projects as a fourth-rounder
Wednesday, April 22: Top 5 Running backs
Thursday, April 23: Top 5 Quarterbacks
NFL must handle Winston, Mariota with care. Both need seasoning
Friday, April 24: Top 5 Tight ends
South Carolina's Rory "Buster" Anderson hopes to get his NFL shot
ICYMI: Here's a link to last year's Position-by-Position series.
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