North Carolina State University Athletics
2006 NFL Draft: Former Wolfpack Players Await Selection
4/28/2006 12:00:00 AM | Football
April 28, 2006
NC State NFL Draft Notes
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Former Wolfpack Players Among Draft Elite
According to the NFL's official draft site and ESPN.com's draft analysts, Mario Williams, Manny Lawson and John McCargo are among players expected to be taken in the first round. Williams in particular has drawn considerable attention and is rated by most as the top defensive player in the draft and a lock for a top-5 pick. Lawson has more than likely secured a first round pick, while McCargo has risen in recent weeks to move into a possible first round selection.
Two For One
If at least two Wolfpack players are selected in the first round of Saturday's 2006 NFL Draft, it will mark the first time in school history NC State has had more than one player selected in the same year in the first round.
Super Mario
Mario Williams is rated as the number one defensive lineman and second best player overall by Scouts, Inc. on ESPN.com. The junior defensive end set Wolfpack records in single season sacks (14), single game sacks (4) and career sacks (25) during the 2005 season.
NFL.com's draft experts list Williams as the top defensive end and lineman overall and projects him as the fourth overall pick to the N.Y. Jets.
Many media outlets have talked about several scenarios that have Williams going as high as No. 1 overall to the Houston Texans.
Man-ny of the Draft
The Wolfpack's "other" defensive end was nearly as productive as his counterpart, Mario Williams. NFL.com has Manny Lawson going No. 18 to the Dallas Cowboys. He tallied 41 tackles for loss and 21 sacks in his four year career with both marks ranking in the top-4 all-time at NC State. Lawson is rated the No. 2 defensive end overall, just behind Williams on NFL.com's rankings. Lawson is rated the No. 22 prospect overall and third among defensive lineman on ESPN.com's board.
McCargo's Stock Soars
John McCargo started the first half of the season in 2005 at defensive tackle before an injury cut his regular season short. He returned to play in the Meineke Car Care Bowl and finished his career ninth in tackles for loss with 31. ESPN.com lists McCargo as the No. 6 defensive lineman and the 62nd best prospect overall. NFL.com ranks McCargo third among defensive tackles.
The ACC and the Number One Pick
The Atlantic Coast Conference has never had a number one overall draft pick in the NFL draft. Some current members of the ACC have had a top pick before joining the ACC. Virginia Tech (Michael Vick, 2001; Bruce Smith, 1985), Miami (Russell Maryland, 1991; Vinny Testaverde, 1987) and Virginia (Bill Dudley,1942) are the only current ACC members to have had a number one overall pick.
Other Players Ranked by ESPN.com and NFL.com
T.J. Williams is ranked the 11th-best tight end by both ESPN.com and NFL.com ... Marcus Hudson is the 14th-best defensive back by ESPN.com and the No. 23 DB by NFL.com ... Oliver Hoyte is the No. 10 inside linebacker by ESPN.com and Stephen Tulloch ranks No. 17 at outside linebacker ... Derek Morris is the No. 18 offensive tackle by ESPN.com.
