By Will Vandervort.
Vic Beasley will play in front of his hometown and will play for his hometown team. The Atlanta Falcons selected the former Clemson defensive end No. 8 overall by the Atlanta Falcons in Thursday’s 2015 NFL Draft from Chicago.
“We are very excited to have Vic join the Falcons. We were fired up to add him,” said Atlanta General Manger Thomas Dimitroff to the Atlanta media. “Beasley’s speed and athleticism were what attracted us most to Beasley.
“We are adding pass rush to the defense. Vic is going to be a nice addition for us.”
Beasley, who is from Adairsville, Ga., is the 25th former Tiger taken in the opening round of the NFL Draft. He is also the ninth former Clemson player chosen in the top 10 picks.
Adairsville is just 50 miles from the Falcons home facility. is just the fifth Clemson player drafted by the Atlanta Falcons, the first in the first round. However, he is the second Clemson defensive end taken by the Falcons in the last three years. Malliciah Goodman was a fourth-round pick by the Falcons from Dabo Swinney’s program in 2013. Goodman just completed his second year with the franchise.
“Vic called his shot,” said Clemson head coach Dabo Swinney from Chicago. “He is the Babe Ruth of the draft and come to think of it Ruth called his shot in Chicago (at 1932 World Series).”
Beasley was one of 28 prospects at the Auditorium Theatre in Chicago on Thursday night as part of the NFL’s 2015 Draft Day Experience.
“We were focused on Vic from the very beginning,” Dimitroff said. “Glad we didn’t have to get antsy to jump up and get him.”
Beasley set a Clemson record for career sacks with 33, including 12 last year, and had 52.5 career tackles for loss, including 21.5 last year. He was a consensus All-American in 2013 and 2014 and was named the ACC Defensive Player of the Year after the 2014 season.
“His first step is outstanding,” said NFL Network analyst Mike Mayock said.
Clemson has had a first-round draft choice each of the last three years. DeAndre Hopkins was the No. 27 selection of the 2013 draft by the Houston Texans and Watkins was the No. 4 pick by Buffalo last year.
“This is a pressure pick,” said Stanford head coach David Shaw, who is working for the NFL Network tonight. “Hopefully, they can get the stadium going down there in Atlanta with a little bit of noise. He is a quick first step. This guy can get in the backfield.”
Beasley’s selection marks the second time Clemson has had a first-round draft pick three consecutive years. The only other stretch in which that has happened was in the 1997-‘99 era when Trevor Pryce (Denver, 1997), Anthony Simmons (Seattle, 1998) and Antwan Edwards (Green Bay, 1999) were all first-round selections.
“He is very active, has a high motor and will sack the quarterback,” said NFL Network’s Steve Mariucci.
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
2015 Vic Beasley DE 8 Atlanta Falcons
#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
2015 Vic Beasley DE 8 Atlanta Falcons
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