For the first time in the history of the NFL Draft, an ACC player was chosen first overall as the Houston Texans selected N.C. State defensive end Mario Williams in April’s NFL Draft.
Joining Williams in the draft were five other former N.C. State players, four of whom played alongside Williams on the Wolfpack’s defense.
Eric Ellis, a junior in sociology, said Williams’ selection brings recognition to the program.
“It’s great because it gives State national attention and really puts us in the spotlight,” Ellis said.
In two preseason games this year, Williams has two tackles and no sacks.
Defensive linemen Manny Lawson and John McCargo were also first-round draft choices, picked 22nd by the San Francisco 49ers and 26th by the Buffalo Bills, respectively.
Also drafted were linebacker Stephen Tulloch in the fourth round by the Tennessee Titans, cornerback Marcus Hudson in the sixth round by the 49ers and tight end T.J. Williams in the sixth round by the Tampa Bay Buccaneers.
But Ellis attests that not all students were pleased with the selections. He said the picks show the flaws in State’s system.
“It’s pretty bad when State has just as many draft picks as some of the best teams in college football, but we finish in the middle of the ACC,” Ellis said.
Lawson, moved to starting outside linebacker for the 49ers, and has five tackles in two games.
Tulloch, who found out he had been drafted while sitting in his Miami home, signed with his new team in July.
“It’s something I had dreamt about my whole life,” Tulloch said in a July interview. “It was like a huge weight had dropped off my shoulders.”
Tulloch, who has seven tackles in two games, said some of the differences between college football and the NFL that he felt immediately were the practices and the learning curve.
“There is no learning process. If you don’t know it you leave — simple as that,” Tulloch said.
He said the veterans on the team have helped ease the learning curve, and Tulloch added that he gladly listens.
“I caught on to the things pretty well,” Tulloch said. “The veterans really teach you respect and can teach you a lot of things about the game.”
Tulloch said the Titans coaches have told him they’re hoping to play Tulloch from the beginning.
“When the coaches drafted me, they said they wanted me to play right away,” Tulloch said. “So I’ve come in to camp prepared and am fighting for some playing time and to help the team.”
McCargo has played as defensive tackle for Buffalo and has two tackles in two games.
Hudson is listed as the third string free safety for San Francisco and T.J. Williams is on Tampa Bay’s injured reserve list.
