There has been no shortage of talk about ACC players in the lead-up to the NFL Draft. Look no further than the debate over the first pick, which currently looks to be leaning in the favor of former Florida State quarterback Jameis Winston. The former Heisman Trophy winner filed a trademark for "Famous Jameis," our Darren Rovell reported Monday, putting himself in position to capitalize on a nickname that has followed him from early on during his career with the Seminoles.
But it's a rather off-the-radar former ACC player who has experienced a rapid rise in the early months of pre-draft evaluation: Kevin Johnson.
The former Wake Forest cornerback drew representatives from 23 NFL teams Monday to Winston-Salem, North Carolina, for his pro day, and he has little doubt about about his abilities.
"I think I'm the best cornerback," Johnson said, according to our David Newton.
Newton, who covers the Carolina Panthers, says Carolina could be in the hunt for a corner like Johnson in the first round with the No. 25 pick. Another team with interest appears to be the Pittsburgh Steelers, who sent a league-high four reps to Wake Forest.
In his most recent mock draft, Scouts Inc.'s Todd McShay has Johnson going 14th overall, to the Miami Dolphins.
Johnson rested on his Combine numbers Monday -- namely a 4.52 40-yard dash -- and both he and Demon Deacons coach Dave Clawson believe that Johnson can be a shutdown corner at the next level despite notching just one interception this past fall.
"He's a tall corner that can run," Clawson said. "And he has the loosest, quickest hips of anybody I've ever seen."
Here are the rest of your Tuesday links:
The Orlando Sentinel's Matt Murschel takes a look at ACC QB battles to watch this spring.
The (Charleston) Post and Courier's Aaron Brenner looks at Clemson's to-do list this spring.
Miami has added corner Terrance Henley to its 2015 class, Matt Porter writes in the Palm Beach Post.
North Carolina has made the hiring of DBs coach Charlton Warren official.
Pat Narduzzi and Pittsburgh embrace being the tough guys on the block, Paul Myerberg writes in USA Today.