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NFL Draft Guru Justin Van Fulpen takes a look at his top ten ACC prospects for the 2010 NFL Draft.
Linebacker Mark Herzlich of Boston College would have been ranked number one overall, but he has been diagnosed with Ewing's Sarcoma, a malignant tumor most often found in bone or soft tissue. The NFL Draft Bible would like to wish the best for Mark and his family and hope that he can recover 100%, and live a normal life even if that means he will never step on a football field again.
1. RB C.J. Spiller, Clemson – Spiller is an electrifying running back who has the ability to take it the distance on any given play. With James Davis now in the NFL, Spiller must show that he can be a full time back. He doesn’t have great size; weighing around 200 pounds, so the question is can he carry the load 20 to 25 times a game. With the NFL going to a lot of two back systems Spiller fit into that mold perfectly, since he has great hands and can do damage once he gets a hold of the rock. Clemson is going to ask Spiller to be the workhouse this season, if he shows he can do it, he will be a first round pick, if he can’t he will drop out of the first round but still will be a valuable assist to any NFL team.
2. CB Pat Robinson, Florida State – As a sophomore, Robinson earned a team and career-high six interceptions, including one each in five consecutive games to tie the school record for consecutive games with at least one interception. Unfortunately, Robinson was one of the players involved in the infamous Florida State cheating scandal, and that will raise some question marks with NFL teams. Last season he had 26 tackles despite playing in only eight games and four pass break-ups, because when he was on the field quarterback where staying away from him. He has good size at 5’11, 194 pounds, to go along with well-coached coverage skills and ability to support the run. Robinson should run in the low 4.4-range and is projected as a first round pick entering the season.
 3. DE Ricky Sapp, Clemson – Considered undersized by many NFL personnel; Sapp makes up for it with his athleticism and quick burst of speed off the snap of the ball. At 6’4 and 245 pounds, Sapp can add some more bulk as well as strength. Right now Sapp is also pretty one-dimensional in his pass rush and his straight line speed and his initial burst to beat tackles off the line of scrimmage. He will certainly need to show an expanded repertoire during his final season in the orange and purple. As a junior, Sapp registered 28 total tackles, 10 tackles for loss and two sacks. If he does show that he can add some bulk and strength then he will be a better overall defensive end that can not only rush the passer with speed, but take on the run and use some other pass rushing moves. He could be used in a 3-4 defense as an outside linebacker, but his best bet would be to add the bulk and play in a 4-3 at the next level. Most scouts feel Sapp will be taken somewhere around the 2nd-3rd round-range.
4. LB Dekoda Watson, Florida State – Watson last season had 46 total tackles with eight tackles for loss and one interception. He has good size at 6’2, 226 and like all Florida State linebackers can run. He has the ability to play both the weak side and strong side linebacker position and does a good job against the run and the pass. Some people might be looking and saying why is Watson ranked at the number four overall prospect in ACC, well the thinking is that going into his senior season, he will get better with more experience and be able to make more plays in the defense then he has in the past. Watson is poised for a break out senior season and should end up with a second round grade when it is all said and done.
5. CB Brandon Ghee, Wake Forest – Ghee is the next player to emerge from the Wake Forest defense to end up in the NFL. A 5’11, 190-pound cornerback with great ball skills and the ability to come up and make tackles on receivers, as well as stick his nose in the backfield and take on running backs. He has good hips and shows the ability to play man-to-man. Another break-out candidate, look for Ghee to improve on his numbers for last year where he had 35 tackles, 3.5 tackles for loss, one sack and one interception. Right now he has a second round grade.
6. DT Vincent Oghobaase, Duke – Duke doesn’t get a lot of love when it comes to college football but Oghobaage will put them on the map when in comes to the 2010 NFL Draft. It is hard to find 6-6 300 defensive tackles that are good overall athletes that can make plays up and down the line of scrimmage. He shows the ability to penetrate in the back field and does a good job playing with leverage. Last season Oghobaage had 51 total tackles, 9 tackles for loss, and 6 sacks. Right now he has a late third round grade, but could improve that.
 7. DE Willie Young, North Carolina State – The prototypical “tweener”, Young is another undersize defensive end who will need to add weight or have to move play in the 3-4 as an outside linebacker. He stands in at 6’4, 240 pounds and possesses the ability to play the run and play with strength, despite being undersize for a defensive end. He has good speed but not great speed, but has a very good first step and has the ability to use multiple pass rush moves. Young had a productive season last year with 58 total tackles, 12.5 tackles for loss, 6.5 sacks and one interception. Young has a third-to-fourth round grade heading into the season.
8. WR Jacoby Ford, Clemson – Ford is not a big guy, standing at only 5-9 182 pounds but boy is he quick. Once he gets the ball into his hands he can make people miss and then take it to the end zone. Last season he scored four touchdowns on 55 catches which was second on the team and end up with 710 receiving yards. Because of his size he does a good job and needs to getting in and out of his breaks is a good route runner and is a dangerous when he gets his hands on the ball. He also can help in the return game. He is never going to be a number one receiver in the NFL, but can be a very productive guy and help you on special teams, right now he has a fourth round grade.
9. DT Shaunte "Boo" Robinson, Wake Forest – Probably one of the more underrated players out of the ACC, Robinson is a guy we’d like to put higher on the list, but it would be hard to state a case for it at this point in time. He is one of the more well-rounded prospects in terms of overall game and is a tremendous athlete who can penetrate in the back field and make plays against the run or rush the passer. Robinson fits the mold of your typical Tampa Two defensive tackle and may even be a better overall player than Peria Jerry, who was a first round pick by the Atlanta Falcons in the 2009 draft. Last season, he had 47 total tackles, six tackles for loss, five sacks and one interception. Currently, the Deamon Deacon holds a mid-round grade but don’t be surprised to see Robinson soar to day one status.
10. S Kamer Chancellor, Virginia Tech – Chancellor is a big athletic safety and can match USC’s Taylor Mays in overall size as a safety. Both are 6’3, and Chancellor is 225 pounds. Last season Chancellor had 52 tackles, two interceptions and five pass break-ups. He is a good overall athlete and his size helps when he comes down and supports the run, he is a little stiff in the hips in pass coverage and is better in zone coverage then man to man, but has the ability to play both. Chancellor will come up and lay the smackdown as well. The one area he will need to improve upon is his pass coverage skills, in order to become a complete player at the next level. Entering his senior campaign, Chancellor carries a fourth round grade.
Click to see our Top 10 SEC Senior Prospects
Click to see our Top 10 Big XII Prospects
Click to see our Top 10 Pac 10 Prospects
Click to see our Top 10 Big Ten Prospects
Click to see our Top 10 Big East Prospects
Click to see our Top 10 ACC Prospects
Click to see our Top 10 Mid-Major Prospects
You can follow my updates on Twitter at www.twitter.com/jvanfulpen
Photo Credit: Clemson SID, Peyton Williams (NC State)
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