Will Carolina College Draft Woes Continue to the NFL?

The Carolinas will always be a basketball first region. The history of programs such as North Carolina and Duke could have their own wings of the Basketball Hall of Fame in Springfield, MA. That legendary status was not enough to prevent Carolina teams from being largely ignored in last summer’s NBA Draft. Only three players from the Carolinas were taken with any of the 58 selections. Only one, Duke’s Jared McCain, 16th overall to the Philadelphia 76ers, was drafted in round one.

If fans of Carolina based college teams are hoping for a reversal in the 2025 NFL Draft to be held in Green Bay, WI next April, they should be prepared to be similarly disappointed. No credible analyst expected this draft class to match or exceed the 2024 class. There was no prospect who had a chance to be taken third overall like North Carolina’s Drake Maye who was drafted third overall by the New England Patriots. Four players from Carolina teams were selected in the first round. Seven players were selected in the draft’s premium three rounds.

Using nflmockdraftdatabase.com as measuring stick, Carolina based teams are likely to have only one first round pick. Even that pick will not come from one of the region’s traditional powers. East Carolina CB Shavon Revel, Jr., is the only prospect carrying a first round grade. The long and athletic corner is the data base’s 24th best prospect and should be a mid to late first rounder. There is a steep drop off until the next rated player, and the Carolina’s most dynamic prospect, North Carolina’s RB Omarion Hampton. Hampton has already surpassed the 1,000 yard rushing mark. He is the third ranked running back prospect behind Heisman Trophy favorite, Boise State’s Ashton Jeanty, and Ohio State’s Quinshon Judkins. Hampton’s numbers could be a victim of North Carolina’s tumultuous and disappointing season. His talent and previous production will garner serious second round consideration.

It will take strong second half performances and post-season evaluations such as the Combine and collegiate Pro Days for other Carolina based prospects to secure their spots in the second and third rounds. A pair of Clemson players are fluctuating between the second and third rounds. LB Barret Carter, 60th overall, and OT Blake Miller, 62nd overall, will be players that need to impress on video and in the evaluation process to maintain their second round grade. They are joined in that late second round mix with South Carolina DL T.J. Sanders who checks in at 63rd overall. When players are this close to the bottom of the round, their fates often fall as much on team needs as their individual scouting reports.

Sanders’ Gamecock teammate, Edge Kyle Kennard is the only Carolina prospect with a solid third round projection as he is the 84th rated prospect. He is the 13th rated Edge in the 2025 class and considering how desperately NFL teams covet edge rushers, scouts might overlook his uneven season and find a talent that can have his weaknesses coached out of him and grab him higher than his ranking indicates. Clemson DL DeMonte Capehart is the last Carolina player that projects as a possible day two selection. He is the 96th rated overall prospect and 13th highest rated defensive lineman. Like edge rushers, NFL teams never have enough depth at those positions. Capehart should have the opportunity to make his mark in high profile games such as the ACC Championship and a possible College Football Playoff game later this season. 

Should he stand out in those games, he could move into consideration in the middle of round three or higher.

The most intriguing prospect of all of the Carolina based players is not a candidate for day two, or even early day three consideration. Clemson QB Cade Klubnik is currently ranked 176th overall and 11th among quarterbacks. He was a heralded recruit and was expected to do great things at Clemson. He is not DJ Uiagalelei, but it is fair to say he has not yet fulfilled his prep reputation. His production has been acceptable. Clemson is 6-1 and the favorite to win the ACC. He has been very accurate this season by connecting on 66.7% of his throws. He has been smart in his decision making as evidenced by a 20-3 touchdown to interception ratio. He posts a respectable 164.5 passer rating. He is rated higher than Heisman hopeful Dillon Gabriel of Oregon and Sothern Cal’s Miller Moss. The advantage Klubnik has is he is only a junior. He can return to campus in 2025 in hopes of posting better numbers and putting more pro-style plays on video. Klubnik has not indicated his intentions, but a return to the Tigers is probably his best course of action.

Aside from Clemson, the teams in the Carolinas would consider 2024 a disappointment to date. Bad play and off field factors such as Hurricane Helene have made game days difficult in North and South Carolina. All of it will conspire to depress the value of the Carolina’s draft class next spring. If these teams are looking for a silver lining, the need only look to their brethren in basketball shorts. After a poor representation in 2024, Carolina teams are poised to roar back to prominence in the 2025 NBA Draft, led by Duke’s Cooper Flagg who is the early favorite to be selected first overall. While there isn’t anyone from the Carolinas projected to go first overall in Pittsburgh in 2026, the are players that are lurking in the projected top 10. Numerous things can transpire in the intervening months that can change the equation, but this year is looking like an off year and not a trend.