Who's Next?
NC State had a school-record seven players drafted in the 2018 NFL Draft but could have even more selected in the 2019 NFL Draft. Here's a look at several Wolfpack players expected to be on the radar of NFL scouts next season.
Quarterback Ryan Finley
Redshirt senior Ryan Finley nearly entered the 2018 NFL Draft, and it wouldn't have been a surprising decision had he chosen to do so.
He checks a lot of the boxes that NFL scouts covet, and returning to school could make him a lot of money.
Of all the players on this list, Finley is easiest the biggest lock. With the way quarterbacks rise in drafts, he could play his way into being a Top 15 pick.
CBS Sports recently published an early 2019 mock draft and Finley was tabbed No. 32 overall in the first round to the New England Patriots.
He's a NFL quarterback, and Finley's return puts NC State in a position to once again compete in the Atlantic Division against the league's best teams.
Wide Receiver Kelvin Harmon
Wolfpack fans, enjoy true junior Kelvin Harmon this year because it could be his last in Raleigh.
Harmon is coming off a breakout sophomore campaign where he was tabbed first-team All-ACC by the ACSMA after finishing the regular season with six 100-yard games and ranking third in the league with 82.8 receiving yards per contest.
On film, he jumps out as a future NFL prospect. At 6-foot-3 and nearly 220 pounds, Harmon has ideal size for an outside receiver, and his ability to win one-on-one balls will translate to the next level.
This season he'll likely have an even bigger role, which will only help his cause. If Harmon has the year he's expected to have, look for him to be a NFL lock next season. IF he chose to return for his senior year, than he certainly would be a major name in the 2020 draft class.
Linebacker Germaine Pratt
Germaine Pratt's time is now.
The redshirt senior started out his career at safety before redshirting and rotating in, frequently, last season at linebacker. As the season went on his snaps increased, and frankly, it was hard to keep him off the field.
Looking back at 2017, Pratt made huge individual plays, particularly in the wins over Louisville and North Carolina.
What makes Pratt so special is physically, he has the measurables you look for at linebacker and is physical in the box while also being a very, very good coverage player.
Here is how effective Pratt was in 2017.
So not only did he have the third-best run stop percentage among ACC inside linebackers, he also yielded just a 45.4 passer rating when targeted, which was fourth-lowest among Power 5 linebackers.
He's no one-trick pony and projects to be a three-down linebacker in the NFL. He won't leave the field this season for NC State... imagine the numbers he should be able to post.
The 6-foot-3, 235-pounder could end up as NC State's best player in 2018.
Defensive End Darian Roseboro
Senior Darian Roseboro has waited for his chance to be the man up front, and he will get that opportunity this season.
The 6-foot-4, 280-pounder should more than play his way into being a NFL draft pick. He's been a very productive player on a per-snap basis his first three seasons, and like Pratt, he'll now be an every-down player.
Like Finley, Roseboro nearly entered the draft after 2017, but he wanted to return and his earn his degree while also maximizing his stock.
He is currently in school history with 13.5 career sacks, despite having started just two career games. Roseboro is effective against the run and pass, and with this being his final year look for him to be in top shape prior to the 2018 campaign.
One publication has him currently rated the No. 18 defensive end prospect... look for him to potentially be picked in at least the same range of B.J. Hill, Justin Jones, and Kentavius Street were this season.
Left Tackle Tyler Jones
Right tackle Will Richardson was a fourth-round pick this season, and his teammate, Tyler Jones, is slated to be a draft pick in 2019.
Jones has been on the radar for a while now, and he helped himself last year after being named a first-team All-ACC pick by the ACSMA. He is entering his third year as a starter for the Wolfpack and he'll receive a lot of buzz during his senior campaign.
At 6-foot-3 and 300 pounds he lacks the prototypical height of a NFL left tackle, but his 6-foot-10 inch wingspan is what makes him so special as a pass protector. Jones could play guard or tackle in the NFL, and he has a chance to come off the board in at least the same spot as Richardson.
Center Garrett Bradbury
Garrett Bradbury is a grinder who has worked himself into being a potential NFL draft selection.
A member of Dave Doeren's 2014 class, Bradbury enrolled at NC State as a 235-pound tight end prospect. He spent time at defensive end and defensive tackle before moving to the offensive line as a redshirt sophomore.
He started at guard in 2016 before moving to center last season where he earned first-team All-ACC honors.
Physically, he checks all the boxes and he has the athleticism NFL offensive line coaches covet with interior linemen. Bradbury continues to get better and better, and he should have a strong senior season after finally settling in at the same position for the first time in his career.
Ideal size + above-average athleticism + consistent production = a draftable prospect. That is Garrett Bradbury.
Wide Receiver Jakobi Meyers
You won't find a bigger Jakobi Meyers fan than me.
After watching back several of the 2017 games it's obvious that Meyers has the potential to be a special receiver. At nearly 6-foot-3 he isn't your prototypical slot receiver but he runs great routes, is quick-twitch which helps him create separation, and he has outstanding hands.
It's crazy to think that just a couple of years ago he was taking reps each day in practice at quarterback because he looks like a natural at wide receiver.
Last season he led all ACC wide receivers in third-down conversion catches, and he ranked in the top 10 in total receptions while being in the top four in receptions in ACC games. With Jaylen Samuels now in Pittsburgh, Meyers will receive even more targets in the slot.
Meyers was tabbed a second-team All-ACC pick by Pro Football Focus.
He should have a huge, huge year, and with his measurables, tape, and athleticism... he's a future pro. Like with Harmon, I wouldn't be surprised at all to see Meyers be a member of the 2019 NFL draft class.
Guard Terronne Prescod
Folks have wondered the last couple of days why Tony Adams maybe didn't get drafted, and a likely reason is while extremely productive, Adams lacked ideal measurables for the next level.
Personally, I believe Adams will be a multi-year starter in the NFL, but scouts often target certain traits.
Redshirt senior Terronne Prescod certainly has what you're looking for in an interior guard. At 6-foot-5 and 330 pounds, Prescod is a mauler in the run game and has worked hard to improve his pass protection. He's made spot starts at right tackle, which indicates the staff is confident he can pass-pro against edge defenders.
Prescod was tabbed a second-team All-ACC pick by Pro Football Focus.
He's another Wolfpack player certainly on the radar of NFL scouts and GMs.
Wide Receiver Stephen Louis
Physically, Stephen Louis may test out better than both Harmon and Meyers. Now Steph just needs to be more consistent in terms of his production.
He's another who will benefit from additional targets, and it seems his role at receiver will expand as he was lining up in the slot and taking jet sweeps during spring practice.
His tape is very good, he wins on the outside like Harmon, and he's also a player capable of churning up yards after the catch as well. Louis averages nearly 17 yards per catch for his career, so he's clearly a big-play weapon.
Louis is 6-foot-2 and 217 pounds and should run in the 4.4/4.5's. That's a great start. He'll certainly benefit from Finley's return, and he has a chance to play his way into being a NFL draft pick.
Parting Shot
As you can see above, next year should be another big year for the Wolfpack in the NFL draft.
That's nine players capable of being selected and there are others who could also be potential draft picks, such as: defensive tackle Eurndraus Bryant and A.J. Cole among others.