Clemson, FSU, Miami Lead 2024 Parade
Of ACC Products On NFL Opening-Day Rosters;
NC State, UNC Again Top In-State Programs

By David Glenn
North Carolina Sports Network
(last updated Sept. 5, 2024)

On the opening night (Sept. 5) of the 2024 National Football League regular season, more than 360 products of current Atlantic Coast Conference schools populated NFL teams’ game-day rosters, practice squads and reserve lists.

While the numbers below will remain fluid throughout the season, as NFL teams continue to add, subtract and reclassify players daily, Clemson (38), Florida State (34) and Miami (31) continue to represent the ACC’s most productive professional football pipelines.

Between them, the Tigers (eight) and Seminoles (four) have won 12 of the last 13 ACC football championships. The Hurricanes, who joined the league in 2004, are still seeking their first ACC title on the gridiron.

At the other end of the spectrum, Georgia Tech (11), Syracuse (12) and Virginia (12) have the fewest current NFL players. The Yellow Jackets, who won the league in 2009, have the only ACC title from that trio in the last 25 years.

Among North Carolina-based teams, NC State (29) and UNC (23) continue to set the pace. In addition to Clemson, FSU and Miami, the Wolfpack and Tar Heels both remain well above the ACC’s median number (17) of NFL players, as do Stanford (29), Pittsburgh (27) and Virginia Tech (25).

Here’s the ACC’s league-wide snapshot, through Sept. 5:

NFL Players — ACC Program
(Opening-Day Rosters)

38 — Clemson
34 — Florida State
31 — Miami
29 — NC State
29 — Stanford
27 — Pittsburgh
25 — Virginia Tech
23 — North Carolina
17 — Boston College
17 — Duke
17 — SMU
17 — Wake Forest
16 — California
16 — Louisville
12 — Syracuse
12 — Virginia
11 — Georgia Tech

Impressively, this year’s ACC list also includes 44 NFL rookies — including more than a dozen undrafted players — who made a 53-man active roster, led by a whopping 10 from Florida State, six from Clemson and five each from from Miami and UNC.

The ACC’s highest-profile rookies include its four first-round NFL draft picks: New England quarterback Drake Maye (UNC), Los Angeles Rams defensive end Jared Verse (FSU), Tampa Bay center Graham Barton (Duke) and Baltimore cornerback Nate Wiggins (Clemson).

The longest-tenured NFL players who played at current ACC schools are former Cal quarterback Aaron Rodgers (Jets, 20th NFL season), former Miami defensive lineman Calais Campbell (Dolphins, 17th), former SMU punter Thomas Morstead (Jets, 16th), former Florida State kicker Graham Gano (Giants, 15th), former Cal defensive lineman Cameron Jordan (Saints, 14th) and former Virginia Tech quarterback Tyrod Taylor (Jets, 14th).

2024 NFL Players From Current ACC Schools
(Including Practice Squads, Reserve Lists, As Noted)

Clemson (38)

TE Davis Allen, Rams (2)
CB Andrew Booth, Cowboys (3)
DT Bryan Bresee, Saints (2)
WR Deon Cain, Panthers (3) — Practice Squad
DL Tyler Davis, Rams (R)
RB Travis Etienne Jr., Jaguars (4)
DE Clelin Ferrell, Commanders (6)
DE KJ Henry, Bengals (2)
WR Tee Higgins, Bengals (5)
WR DeAndre Hopkins, Titans (12)
DL Grady Jarrett, Falcons (10)
DT Dexter Lawrence II, Giants (6)
QB Trevor Lawrence, Jaguars (4)
WR Ray-Ray McCloud III, Falcons (7)
OL Jordan McFadden, Chargers (2)
CB Trayvon Mullen, Ravens (5) — Reserve/Injured
DE Myles Murphy, Bengals (2) — Reserve/Injured
LB Tanner Muse, Jaguars (5) — Practice Squad
WR Joseph Ngata, Eagles (1) — Practice Squad
DT Ruke Orhorhoro, Falcons (R)
P Bradley Pinion, Falcons (10)
OC Will Putnam, Raiders (R) — Practice Squad
DL DJ Reader, Lions (9)
WR Justyn Ross, Chiefs (3) — Practice Squad
RB Will Shipley, Eagles (R)
LB/S Isaiah Simmons, Giants (5)
OL John Simpson, Jets (5)
LB Trenton Simpson, Ravens (2)
LB Baylon Spector, Bills (3)
CB AJ Terrell Jr., Falcons (5)
OLB Xavier Thomas, Cardinals (R)
LB Jeremiah Trotter Jr., Eagles (R)
SS K’Von Wallace, Seahawks (5)
DE Carlos Watkins, Commanders (8) — Practice Squad
QB Deshaun Watson, Browns (8)
CB Nate Wiggins, Ravens (R)
DT Christian Wilkins, Raiders (6)
WR Mike Williams, Jets (8)

Florida State (34)

RB Cam Akers, Texans (4)
OT Josh Ball*, Cowboys (4) — Practice Squad
TE Jaheim Bell, Patriots (R)
RB Trey Benson, Cardinals (R)
LB Tatum Bethune, 49ers (R)
OLB Brian Burns, Giants (6)
WR Keon Coleman, Bills (R)
RB Dalvin Cook, Cowboys (7) — Practice Squad
CB Ronald Darby, Jaguars (10)
DT Mario Edwards Jr., Texans (10)
OT Cameron Erving, Texans (9) — Practice Squad
DT Braden Fiske, Rams (R)
LB Amari Gainer*, Raiders (R)
PK Graham Gano, Giants (15)
CB Renardo Green, 49ers (R)
PK Dustin Hopkins, Browns (11)
DT Eddie Goldman, Falcons (7)
S Derwin James Jr., Chargers (7)
LB Jermaine Johnson, Jets (3)
CB Jarrian Jones, Jaguars (R)
DT Fabien Lovett Sr., Chiefs (R) — Practice Squad
DT Derrick Nnadi, Chiefs (7)
S Jalen Ramsey, Dolphins (9)
S Jammie Robinson, Panthers (2)
DE Janarius Robinson, Raiders (4)
CB Asante Samuel Jr., Chargers (4)
OLB Josh Sweat, Eagles (7)
OLB Keir Thomas, Rams (3) — Practice Squad
QB Jordan Travis, Jets (R) — Reserve/Non-Football Injury
OLB Jared Verse, Rams (R)
DL DeMarcus Walker, Bears (8)
RB DJ Williams*, Buccaneers (R) — Practice Squad
WR Johnny Wilson, Eagles (R)
QB Jameis Winston, Browns (10)