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PITTSBURGH, Pa. (theACC.com) – Six Atlantic Coast Conference football players were selected in the first round of the 2026 National Football League (NFL) Draft Thursday night at Point State Park and Acrisure Stadium in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania.
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The six first-round picks in this year’s draft are the most since the ACC had six selections in the 2021 NFL Draft.
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With these six picks, the ACC has had 26 first round picks since 2021 and 128 since 2000.
The 2026 NFL Draft will continue with Rounds 2 and 3 on Friday, April 24, at 7 p.m. ET.
ACC Selections in the 2026 NFL Draft:
Rd. – Overall Pick, Name, Position, School, NFL Team
1 – 10th, Francis Mauigoa, OT, Miami, New York Giants
1 – 15th, Rueben Bain Jr., Edge, Miami, Tampa Bay Buccaneers
1 – 17th, Blake Miller, OT, Clemson, Detroit Lions
1 – 22nd, Akheem Mesidor, Edge, Miami, Los Angeles Chargers
1 – 26th, Keylan Rutledge, OG, Georgia Tech, Houston Texans
1 – 29th, Peter Woods, DT, Clemson, Kansas City Chiefs
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Francis Mauigoa, Miami, Offensive Tackle – No. 10, New York Giants
2025 Consensus First Team All-American
2025 ACC Jacobs Blocking Trophy winner
2025 All-ACC First Team
2024 All-ACC Second Team
2023 All-ACC Honorable Mention
2023 Freshman All-American
Three-year starter with 42 career starts at right tackle for the Hurricanes
Part of an offensive line that ranked No. 5 nationally and led the ACC in fewest tackles-for-loss allowed per game (3.63) in 2025
Offensive line ranked No. 16 nationally and No. 2 in the ACC in sacks allowed per game (1.25) in 2025
Earned an 87.0 pass-blocking grade from Pro Football Focus in 2025, highest among qualified FBS right tackles
Allowed just one sack in 205 true pass set snaps with a 93.7% win rate (PFF)
Key member of the offensive line that was named to the Joe Moore Award midseason honor roll
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Rueben Bain Jr., Miami, Edge – No. 15, Tampa Bay Buccaneers
2025 Consensus First Team All-American
2025 ACC Defensive Player of the Year
2025 Ted Hendricks Award winner
2025 All-ACC First Team
2025 Lott IMPACT Trophy finalist
2024 All-ACC Honorable Mention
2023 ACC Defensive Rookie of the Year
2023 All-ACC Third Team
2023 Freshman All-American
Recorded 83 quarterback pressures in 2025, tied for the most in a single season in the Pro Football Focus College Era
Totaled 54 tackles, 15.5 tackles-for-loss and 9.5 sacks in 2025
Added one interception, one forced fumble and one blocked field goal in 2025
Key leader on a Miami defense that led the ACC and ranked in the top 15 nationally in scoring defense (14.8 ppg), rushing defense (89.3 ypg), sacks (50) and total defense (294.1 ypg)
Finished career with 33.5 tackles-for-loss and 20.5 sacks
Blake Miller, Clemson, Offensive Tackle – No. 17, Detroit Lions
2025 All-ACC First Team
2025 NSCA Strength All-America nominee
2024 All-ACC First Team
2023 All-ACC Third Team
2022 Freshman All-American
2022 College Football Network ACC Offensive Rookie of the Year
Started all 13 games and played 885 offensive snaps in 2025
Started every game of his four-year Clemson career (54)
Set Clemson career record with 3,778 offensive snaps over 54 games (all starts) from 2022-25
Set Clemson record for consecutive starts by a non-specialist (54)
Became just the third Clemson offensive lineman to start every game over a four-year span
Akheem Mesidor, Miami, Edge – No. 22, Los Angeles Chargers
2025 Second Team All-American (The Sporting News)
2025 Ted Hendricks Award finalist
2025 All-ACC First Team
2024 All-ACC Honorable Mention
2022 All-ACC Honorable Mention
One of the nation’s top pass rushers and a leading defensive presence for Miami
Started all 15 games along the defensive line in 2025
Led the ACC and ranked third nationally with 12.5 sacks in 2025
Led Miami and ranked among national leaders with 17.5 tackles-for-loss
Recorded a career-high 63 total tackles (38 solo) in 2025
Posted a team-high four forced fumbles on the season
Finished his collegiate career with 208 tackles, 52.5 tackles-for-loss and 35.5 sacks
Keylan Rutledge, Offensive Guard – No. 26, Houston Texans
2025 First Team All-American (ESPN, The Sporting News, Sports Info Solutions)
2025 Second Team All-American (AFCA, Walter Camp, On3)
2025 Third Team All-American (Associated Press)
2025 All-ACC First Team
2025 ACC Brian Piccolo Award winner
2024 First Team All-American (Sports Info Solutions)
2024 All-ACC First Team
Started all 13 games at right guard for the Yellow Jackets in 2025
Did not allow a sack and surrendered just six quarterback pressures over 872 snaps in 2025
Was ranked as the nation’s No. 5 offensive guard by Pro Football Focus
Anchored an offensive line unit that paved the way for the Yellow Jackets to rank among the top 25 nationally in rushing offense (197.5 ypg) and top five in fewest sacks allowed (0.69 pg)
Started and played in 26 games over two years at Georgia Tech
He is the first Georgia Tech player since Calvin Johnson to be a First-Team All-American in back-to-back years.
Peter Woods, Clemson, Defensive Tackle – No. 29, Kansas City Chiefs
2025 Second Team All-American (Associated Press, USA Today, Phil Steele)
2025 All-ACC First Team
2023 Freshman All-American
Started all 12 games for Clemson in 2025
Totaled 30 tackles, 3.5 tackles-for-loss and 2.0 sacks over 554 defensive snaps in 2025
Added one pass breakup in 2025
Contributed on offense with eight carries for 15 yards, two touchdowns and four first downs in 13 snaps
Finished his career with 84 tackles (41 solo), 14.5 tackles-for-loss and 5.0 sacks in three years at Clemson.
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