:format(webp)/cdn.vox-cdn.com/uploads/chorus_image/image/54555121/usa_today_8880704.0.jpg)
The 2017 NFL Draft wrapped up this weekend. Congratulations to Marquel Lee, who was drafted by the Oakland Raiders in the 5th round. Brad Watson (Chargers), Thomas Brown (Saints), and Josh Banks (Giants), were also Wake Forest players picked up after the Draft.
While it is still really early, who are a couple of guys that Wake Forest fans can expect to see drafted next April?
Duke Ejiofor (DE)
The first name that jumps out is Duke Ejiofor. He stated right after the Military Bowl victory over Temple that he would be returning to Wake Forest for his senior season. While he has battled injuries over the past couple of years, when healthy he is one of the better pass rushers in the Atlantic Coast Conference.
Bradley Chubb of N.C. State (and brother of former Wake standout Brandon Chubb) will get most of the attention at the DE spot in the off-season from a national standpoint, but Ejiofor is very talented as well.
While he will need to do some work to get into the First Round of the Draft, it’s not unreasonable at all to believe that he can get drafted in the 2nd or 3rd Round. Barring something strange happening Ejiofor will be drafted and will almost certainly be the first Wake Forest player off the board.
Cam Serigne (TE)
Serigne also declared that he would be coming back to Winston-Salem for his final year. I’m unsure of where he would have been drafted had he come out, but it was likely a wise decision to return to Wake Forest and play his final year.
He is ranked as the 7th best TE in the class of 2018 by CBS Sports, and is well known for his ability as a receiver. What scouts will look at this year is how he develops as a blocker on the line. At Wake he is pulled on obvious rushing and blocking situations for Devin Pike.
The 7th ranked TE in 2017 went in the 4th round this year, but the above ranking doesn’t include any underclassmen who may declare. I would expect Serigne to go in the later rounds of the NFL Draft, but he should hear his name called.
Who else?
Wake has a small senior class this year, so there’s a smaller pool than usual to speculate on for the NFL Draft. Outside of Serigne and Ejiofor I could see Zeek Rodney or Jaboree Williams getting some looks, and possibly get picked up as an Undrafted Free Agent following the Draft.
Obviously there is a lot of time before next year, but this is a good snapshot of what Wake fans can expect out of the next class as far as who could play at the next level.