Vic Beasley drafted #8 overall in 2015 NFL Draft

Tony Crumpton by Assoc. Editor -

Clemson defensive end Vic Beasley Vic Beasley

Defensive End (2010 - 2014)

#3 6-2, 236

Adairsville, GA

View Full Profile was drafted #8 overall by the Atlanta Falcons during the first round of the 2015 NFL Draft on Thursday night.

The Falcons were Beasley's favorite NFL team since his childhood years. The NFL team was desperate for pass rushing help as they were 30th out of 32 teams last season in sacks.

Beasley was the third straight first round pick the last three years from Clemson (Hopkins and Watkins).

Beasley accumulated 33 sacks (25 sacks in his final 26 games) and leaves Clemson as the all-time sack leader and had an amazing 52.5 tackles for loss at Clemson. He was also a two-time first-team All-American and was selected as the ACC Defensive Player of the Year in 2014.

"He's easily the best athlete of the edge guys," said NFL Network's Mike Mayock right after Beasley's selection. "He came to the combine at 246 lbs, bench pressed 225 lbs 37 times, ran faster than anyone else, jumped 42 inches. His first step is outstanding. I think what he is day one is a situational pass rusher while he learns to set an edge."

"He reminds me a lot of Dante Fowler when I was watching him on film - very active, high motor, and will sack the quarterback," said NFL Network's Steve Mariucci.

TheACC.com's take on Vic Beasley: "Beasley’s freakish athletic ability compares relatively well to former ACC superstar, Julius Peppers. In fact, Beasley’s 40-yard-dash time of 4.53 seconds was better than Peppers’ time of 4.68. Both players have relatively large hands, at about 10 inches each. Obviously, Vic Beasley is not as big as Julius Peppers but they both share similar athleticism and explosiveness out of the gate."

Beasley helped the 2014 Tigers lead the nation in total defense, pass efficiency defense, fewest first downs allowed, tackles for loss, tackles for loss yardage, sack yardage, third down defense, fewest yards for pass attempt, few yards for play allowed and fewest plays 10+ yards allowed.

An AJC Falcons’ fans poll asked, “Who should the Falcons take with the 8th overall pick in the draft?” The fans wanted Beasley out of all the defensive end players in the 2015 NFL Draft despite Todd McShay and other analysts downgrading Beasley's abilities.

Vic Beasley, Clemson 35.79% (2,429 votes)

Dante Fowler, Jr, Florida 32.83% (2,228 votes)

Bud Dupree, Kentucky 10.56% (717 votes)

Other: 8.21% (557 votes)

Randy Gregory, Nebraska 7.03% (477 votes)

Shane Ray, Missouri 5.58% (379 votes)

Sammy Watkins (2014), Gaines Adams (2007) and Banks McFadden (1940) remain the highest selected Clemson football NFL draft picks of all-time at #4 overall.

Official Clemson Bio: Defensive end who emerged as one of the top pass rushers in the country in 2013 and was the same in 2014 ... one of the team’s most athletic players ... had 101 tackles, 52.5 tackles for loss, 33 sacks, 29 quarterback pressures, 11 pass breakups, seven caused fumbles, two recovered fumbles and two touchdowns in 1,421 snaps over 48 games (25 starts) in his career ... first in school history in sacks, fourth in tackles for loss and tied for seventh in caused fumbles ... had at least one sack in eight consecutive games from 2013 (2) to 2014 (6) ... was involved in a tackle for loss in each of his last 15 games ... two-time, first-team All-American ... two-time, First-Team All-ACC selection.

Congrats to my Clemson brother @VicBeasley3 see you week 6.#WhoDatNation — Cj Spiller (@CJSPILLER) May 1, 2015

Congrats to all the prospects what a dream come true especially Vic Beasley #ClemsonFamily — Sammy Watkins (@sammywatkins) May 1, 2015

With the 8th pick in the 2015 NFL Draft, the @AtlantaFalcons select Vic Beasley, OLB from Clemson. #ATLpick pic.twitter.com/80BtVexKvg — NFL on ESPN (@ESPNNFL) May 1, 2015

Vic Beasley doing his thing down the Gold Carpet. #NFLDraft pic.twitter.com/Wqi9FQyehD — Atlanta Falcons (@AtlantaFalcons) April 30, 2015

We totally approve of this ensemble. Looking sharp in red and black, @VicBeasley3. #RiseUp pic.twitter.com/pAov3W1bon — Atlanta Falcons (@AtlantaFalcons) May 1, 2015

Clemson First-Round Draft Choices Year Player Pos Pick Team 1939 Banks McFadden B 4 Brooklyn Dodgers 1949 Bobby Gage RB 6 Pittsburgh Steelers 1960 Lou Cordileone L 12 New York Giants #Harvey White QB NA New England Patriots 1976 Bennie Cunningham TE 28 Pittsburgh Steelers 1979 Jerry Butler WR 5 Buffalo Bills Steve Fuller WR 23 Kansas City Chiefs 1980 Jim Stuckey DT 20 San Francisco 49ers 1982 Jeff Bryant DT 6 Seattle Seahawks Perry Tuttle WR 19 Buffalo Bills 1983 Terry Kinard FS 10 New York Giants 1985 William Perry MG 22 Chicago Bears 1987 Terrence Flagler TB 25 San Francisco 49ers 1989 Donnell Woolford CB 11 Chicago Bears 1992 Chester McGlockton DT 16 Los Angeles Raiders 1993 Wayne Simmons OLB 15 Green Bay Packers 1997 Trevor Pryce DE 28 Denver Broncos 1998 Anthony Simmons ILB 15 Seattle Seahawks 1999 Antwan Edwards CB 25 Green Bay Packers 2001 Rod Gardner WR 15 Washington Redskins 2006 Tye Hill CB 15 St. Louis Rams 2007 Gaines Adams DE 4 Tampa Bay Bucs 2010 C.J. Spiller RB 9 Buffalo Bills 2013 DeAndre Hopkins WR 27 Houston Texans 2014 Sammy Watkins WR 4 Buffalo Bills #not considered first round selection by NFL because he was an AFL selection. Clemson’s Highest Football Draft Choices Year Player Pos Pick Team 1939 Banks McFadden B 4 Brooklyn Dodgers 2007 Gaines Adams DE 4 Tampa Bay Bucs 2014 Sammy Watkins WR 4 Buffalo Bills 1979 Jerry Butler WR 5 Buffalo Bills 1949 Bobby Gage RB 6 Pittsburgh Steelers 1982 Jeff Bryant DT 6 Seattle Seahawks 2010 C.J. Spiller RB 9 Buffalo Bills 1983 Terry Kinard FS 10 New York Giants 1989 Donnell Woolford CB 11 Chicago Bears 1960 Lou Cordileone L 12 New York Giants Clemson’s Highest Draft Choices in Any Sport Year Name Sport Team # 1996 Kris Benson Baseball Pittsburgh Pirates 1 2001 Mark Lisi Men’s Soccer D.C United 3 2014 Sammy Watkins Football Buffalo Bills 4 1940 Banks McFadden Football Brooklyn Dodgers 4 1996 Billy Koch Baseball Toronto Blue Jays 4 2007 Daniel Moskos Baseball Pittsburgh Pirates 4 2007 Gaines Adams Football Tampa Bay Bucs 4 1979 Jerry Butler Football Buffalo Bills 5 1982 Jeff Bryant Football Seattle Seahawks 6 1949 Bobby Gage Football Pittsburgh Steelers 6 1994 Sharone Wright Basketball Philadelphia 76ers 6 2003 Deliah Arrington Women’s Soccer Philadelphia 6