LOCALIZE IT: NFL draft starts Thursday. Players likely to make first round have ties to 28 states
EDITORS/NEWS DIRECTORS:
The three-day NFL draft begins Thursday night, April 24, in Green Bay, Wisconsin.
Miami quarterback Cam Ward is the consensus No. 1 pick, which the Tennessee Titans own, when the draft kicks off in the shadows of iconic Lambeau Field. The other QB who could go very high in the draft is Colorado’s Shedeur Sanders, although guessing where he’ll end up has become the daily debate on sports shows. Blue chip prospects at other positions include Penn State edge rusher Abdul Carter and two-way star Travis Hunter, the Heisman winner from Colorado who aims to play both offense and defense in the NFL like he did in college. The Cleveland Browns have the second pick followed by the New York Giants. Both the Browns and Giants could use a quarterback but might be hard-pressed to pass on Hunter or Carter.
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HOW TO WATCH THE DRAFT
The first round of the draft is Thursday, beginning at 8 p.m. ET. The second and third rounds are on Friday, April 25, beginning at 7 p.m. ET. The fourth through seventh rounds are on Saturday, April 26, beginning at noon ET.
All rounds will be televised on ESPN, ABC and the NFL Network.
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FIND YOUR STATE: THE 40 PLAYERS MOST LIKELY TO BE DRAFTED IN THE FIRST ROUND
This list includes where players last went to high school and where they play college ball.
ALABAMA
Tyler Booker, guard at Alabama
Jihaad Campbell, linebacker at Alabama
Quinshon Judkins, attended Pike Road High School, running back at Ohio State
Armand Membou, offensive tackle at Alabama
— — —
ARIZONA
Tetairoa McMillan, wide receiver at Arizona
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CALIFORNIA
Mason Graham, attended Servite High School in Anaheim, defensive lineman at Michigan
Tetairoa McMillan, attended Servite High School in Anaheim, wide receiver at Arizona
Josh Simmons, attended Helix Charter High School in La Mesa, offensive tackle at Ohio State
— — —
COLORADO
Travis Hunter, cornerback/wide receiver at Colorado
Shedeur Sanders, quarterback at Colorado
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FLORIDA
Elijah Arroyo, tight end at Miami
Tyler Booker, attended IMG Academy in Bradenton, guard at Alabama
Shemar Stewart, attended Monsignor Edward Pace High School in Miami Gardens, edge rusher at Texas A&M
Mason Taylor, attended St. Thomas Aquinas High School in Fort Lauderdale, tight end at LSU
Cam Ward, quarterback at Miami
— — —
GEORGIA
Travis Hunter, attended Collins Hill High School in Gwinnett County, cornerback/wide receiver at Colorado
Malaki Starks, attended Jefferson High School, safety at Georgia
Mykel Williams, attended Hardaway High School in Columbus, edge rusher at Georgia
— — —
IDAHO
Ashton Jeanty, running back at Boise State
Colston Loveland, attended Gooding High School, tight end at Michigan
— — —
INDIANA
Kenneth Grant, attended Merrillville High School, defensive tackle at Michigan
— — —
KENTUCKY
Maxwell Hairston, cornerback at Kentucky
— — —
LOUISIANA
Trey Amos, attended Catholic High School in New Iberia, cornerback at Mississippi
Will Campbell, attended Neville High School in Monroe, offensive tackle at LSU
Mason Taylor, tight end at LSU
— — —
MASSACHUSETTS
Donovan Ezeiruaku, edge rusher at Boston College
— — —
MICHIGAN
Mason Graham, defensive lineman at Michigan
Kenneth Grant, defensive tackle at Michigan
Maxwell Hairston, attended West Bloomfield High School, cornerback at Kentucky
Derrick Harmon, attended Loyola High School in Detroit, defensive tackle at Oregon
Mason Graham, defensive lineman at Michigan
Will Johnson, attended Grosse Pointe South High School, cornerback at Michigan
Colston Loveland, tight end at Michigan
— — —
MISSISSIPPI
Trey Amos, cornerback at Mississippi
Jaxson Dart, quarterback at Mississippi
Walter Nolen, defensive tackle at Mississippi
— — —
MISSOURI
Luther Burden III, attended East St. Louis High School, wide receiver at Missouri
Armand Membou, attended Lee’s Summit North High School, offensive tackle at Alabama
— — —
NEW JERSEY
Jihaad Campbell, attended Timber Creek Regional High School in Erial, linebacker at Alabama
Donovan Ezeiruaku, attended Williamstown High School, edge rusher at Boston College
— — —
NORTH CAROLINA
Omarion Hampton, attended Cleveland High School in Clayton, running back at North Carolina.
James Pearce Jr., attended Julius L. Chambers High School in Charlotte, edge rusher at Tennessee
Jalon Walker, attended Salisbury High School, edge rusher at Georgia.
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NORTH DAKOTA
Grey Zabel, guard at North Dakota State
— — —
OHIO
Emeka Egbuka, wide receiver at Ohio State
TreVeyon Henderson, running back at Ohio State
Quinshon Judkins, running back at Ohio State
Josh Simmons, offensive tackle at Ohio State
— — —
OREGON
Derrick Harmon, defensive tackle at Oregon
— — —
PENNSYLVANIA
Abdul Carter, attended La Salle College High School in Wyndmoor, edge rusher at Penn State
Tyler Warren, tight end at Penn State
— — —
SOUTH CAROLINA
Nick Emmanwori, attended Irmo High School in Lexington County, safety at South Carolina
— — —
SOUTH DAKOTA
Grey Zabel, attended T.F. Riggs High School in Pierre, guard at North Dakota State
— — —
TENNESSEE
Walter Nolen, attended Powell High School, defensive tackle at Mississippi
James Pearce Jr., edge rusher at Tennessee
— — —
TEXAS
Elijah Arroyo, attended Independence High School in Frisco, tight end at Miami
Kelvin Banks Jr., attended Summer Creek High School in Houston, offensive tackle at Texas
Jahdae Barron, attended Connally High School in Austin, cornerback at Texas
Matthew Golden, attended Klein Cain High School in Houston, wide receiver at Texas
Ashton Jeanty, attended Lone Star High School in Frisco, running back at Boise State
Shedeur Sanders, attended Trinity Christian School in Cedar Hills, quarterback at Colorado
Shemar Stewart, edge rusher at Texas A&M
Cam Ward, attended West Columbia High School, quarterback at Miami
— — —
UTAH
Jaxson Dart, attended Corner Canyon High School in Draper, quarterback at Mississippi
— — —
VIRGINIA
Mike Green, attended Lafayette High School in Williamsburg, edge rusher at Marshall
TreVeyon Henderson, attended Hopewell High School, running back at Ohio State
Tyler Warren, attended Atlee High School in Mechanicsville, tight end at Penn State
— — —
WASHINGTON
Emeka Egbuka, attended Steilacoom High School, wide receiver at Ohio State
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WEST VIRGINIA
Mike Green, edge rusher at Marshall
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ADDITIONAL AP COVERAGE
Pro scouts make adjustments as they navigate the evolving college football world ahead of NFL draft
NFL teams are no longer shying away from older prospects in the draft
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Localize It is a reporting resource produced by The Associated Press for its customers’ use. Questions can be directed to Katie Oyan at koyan@ap.org.
