(Getty)
The First Round of the 2015 NFL Draft will be held from the Roosevelt University Auditorium on Thursday, April 30th live in prime time on ESPN and the NFL Network, with coverage of the draft beginning at 7 p.m. Eastern. The three-day event will conclude on Saturday, May 2nd with Rounds 4-7.
Heavy.com is profiling many of the players who will hear their names called on Thursday night.
This year’s draft is headlined by the two prominent names at the top, Heisman Trophy winners Jameis Winston (Florida State, 2013) and Marcus Mariota (Oregon, 2014) — coincidentally both will not be in attendance this year. This draft is also particularly strong on offensive skill-position players — runningback and wide receivers — as well as defensive ends and pass-rushing linebackers.
One of those players is Clemson defensive end Vic Beasley.
Beasley is projected to go in the First Round on Thursday night. Here else is what you need to know about him:
1. Beasley Was a Four Star Recruit Out of High School
(Getty)
Beasley attended Adairsville High School in Georgia where he was a three-sport star athlete. In high school Beasley played runningback and linebacker, but was eventually recruited to play linebacker.
In 2010, he was rated as the No. 16 athlete in the nation by ESPN, No. 37 athlete in the nation and No. 37 player in Georgia by Rivals.com, No. 34 outside linebacker in the nation and No. 37 player in Georgia by Scout.com
2. Beasley Was a Standout at Clemson
(Getty)
Clemson had to wait a little longer to see Beasley because he redshirted his freshman season in 2010 due to injury. Beasley ended up playing in all four seasons and was a starter from 2012-14.
He developed into one of the best pass-rushing linebackers in the entire nation. From 2012-14, Beasley compiled 33 sacks including 13 and 12 in his junior and senior seasons respectively. His 33 sacks is also a school record. In 2013 and 2014, Beasley was a two-time, First-Team All-American and First-Team All-ACC selection.
3. The “Wall of Sacks” In His Dorm Room Kept Him Motivated
(Getty)
Beasley first believed he could develop into a dominant defensive end for the program in a September 2012 game against the Auburn Tigers. Since, Beasley has had a photo of each sack he’s accumulated photographed, framed and hung up on his off-campus apartment wall to continue to motivate him:
In the middle, the number “28” is displayed, matching Beasley’s career total with Michael Dean Perry (1987-87) and the late Gaines Adams (2003-06) atop the Clemson all-time sack list.
4. Beasley Lost His Older Brother in 2014
(Getty)
On February 1st, 2014, Beasley lost his oldest half-brother Tyrone Barrett who died in a car accident near their hometown of Adairsville, Georgia. He was 40-years-old.
Beasley was close to him, and had plans for him well into the future. He uses his brother’s death as continued motivation and a blessing, something that helped bring his family much closer together than they were before.
5. He Projects More as a 3-4 Outside Linebacker Than a Hybrid 4-3 Defensive End
(Getty)
NFL Network’s Mike Mayock called Beasley: “The Most Ready Pass Rusher in the Draft.” Beasley profiles as the most pro-ready pass-rusher, but still has a lot to work on, namely his strength.
The athleticism and intangibles are there, but like Fowler Jr, Beasley may not have a natural position from day one. Although he is a great pass rusher, he might have to be eased into a 4-3 defensive end role, and would probably excel as a 3-4 situational, third-down pass rusher as a rookie more. In the end, Beasley may pan out a lot like former Pittsburgh Steelers linebacker LaMar Woodley did. Woodley was a potentially elite weakside pass-rusher opposite James Harrison in Pittsburgh and wasn’t great in coverage.
