Virginia Tech’s David Wilson Could Be a First Round Pick if the Cards Fall Right

Leading up to this month’s NFL Draft, we’ll be taking a look at each ACC‘s school’s prospects and where they’re slated to be chosen. While 43 ACC players were invited to the NFL Draft Combine, those not in attendance also have ample opportunity to hear their name called between April 26 and 28.

Virginia Tech moves a lot of talent from last year’s offense into the 2012 NFL Draft — a sure-fire issue for the Hokies that remain. While none are necessarily blue-chippers once they begin their professional careers, this batch of college players were a huge part of last year’s BCS bid, and the team will struggle to prevent drop-off without them.

David Wilson, RB, Junior

As good as Tech QB Logan Thomas is, Wilson is the one who truly made their offense run so well throughout 2011. A reliable, strong runner, his ability to take the pressure off of Thomas allowed for a balanced, aggressive attack that the team will struggle to duplicate this season. As a junior last season, Wilson burst onto the scene by leading the ACC in rushing, while also playing an active role in the passing game. His 300-plus touches on the year were among the most in the conference, reinforcing thoughts on his durability, too. At the combine, he impressed once again by running a 4.40 40-yard dash — blazing speed that sealed his place among the top three or four players at his position, and quieted fears about his relative lack of size (5’10″, 210 pounds). He’s currently projected to go very early in the second round, however, if other running backs are taken earlier than conventional wisdom says, he may vault into the first round. Continue reading →