2021 NFL Draft: Top prospects to watch for each ACC team
By Kyle Edmond
Virginia Tech – Rayshard Ashby, Linebacker, Senior
Preparing for his senior season at Virginia Tech, Rayshard Ashby has shown improvement each season with the Hokies, leading up to what could be a dynamic senior season. As a sophomore, he was named an All-ACC Honorable Mention. Then, as a junior, he was able to improve that to second-team All-ACC. So, can he make another leap to first-team All-ACC in 2020?
The key to achieving that for Ashby will be adding on to what was already a strong 2019 stat line. He received votes to be the conference’s Defensive Player of the Year after being the ACC’s linebacker of the week five times during the season. This came in large part to his ability to stop whoever had the ball, leading the ACC with 120 tackles.
In addition to the absurd amount of tackles, Ashby also forced three fumbles on the season, two of which were picked up and returned for touchdowns by Virginia Tech. If that isn’t enough, he also led the Hokies with 17 tackles for loss and was second on the team in sacks with five.
Ashby has all the tools that teams look for in a stud linebacker. His tackle total speaks for itself, but he also has the ability to get into the backfield and wreak havoc. Any team will be lucky to add him to their roster in the 2021 NFL Draft.