2021 NFL Draft: Top prospects to watch for each ACC team
By Kyle Edmond
Wake Forest – Carlos Basham Jr., Defensive End, Redshirt Senior
Besides Trevor Lawrence, Carlos Basham Jr. might have the most hype around him in the ACC this coming season. He could have very easily entered the 2020 NFL Draft and been a solid pick, but he opted to return to raise his draft stock and teams will be watching closely.
Another first-team All-ACC selection, Basham made a habit of breaking into any backfield he faced. On the season he registered a team-high 11 sacks, which went down as the second-most for a single season in program history and the most since 1992.
He also logged 18 tackles for loss which slotted in at eighth in program history and second in the ACC for the 2019 season. However, the number that might represent Basham’s game the most is his quarterback pressures, totaling 61 on the season, the most of any returning player that will be eligible for the 2021 NFL Draft.
As he prepares for the 2020 season, Basham is already being touted as a premier player in the class. He currently sits as a preseason Second Team All-American. He has also been placed on the Bednarik Award watch list and the Lott IMPACT Trophy watch list.
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There’s one other thing he’ll have to look forward to as well. Extending his streak of 18 consecutive games with at least one tackle for loss, the longest active streak in the country. For perspective, no one else has a streak longer than 12 straight games.