Draft history: a deeper look

So we've been looking at cumulative draft numbers and where Clemson stacks up compared to the rest of the ACC over the last six drafts in the post-expansion era.

We can refine the process by charting first-round picks over that period:

1. Florida State 7
2. Boston College 5
3. Miami 5
4. Virginia 4
5. Clemson 3
5. Georgia Tech 3
5. N.C. State 3
5. North Carolina 3
9. Maryland 2
10. Virginia Tech 1
11. Wake Forest 1
12. Duke 0

But maybe a more illustrative measure is draft picks in the top three rounds.

1. Miami 18
2. FSU 14
3. VT 10
4. Clemson 9
5. BC 8
5. UNC 8
7. GT 7
7. UVA 7
9. MD 6
9. NCST 6
11. WF 3
12. Duke 0

Here's a look at Clemson's picks from the top three rounds by year, going back to 1979:

2011: 3 (Jarvis Jenkins, Marcus Gilchrist, Da'Quan Bowers)
2010: 1 (C.J. Spiller)
2009: 0
2008: 1 (Phillip Merling)
2007: 2 (Gaines Adams, Anthony Waters)
2006: 2 (Tye Hill, Charlie Whitehurst)
2005: 2 (Justin Miller, Leroy Hill)
2004: 2 (Donnell Washington, Derrick Hamilton)
2003: 0
2002: 0
2001: 1 (Rod Gardner)
2000: 0
1999: 2 (Antwan Edwards, Rahim Abdullah)
1998: 1 (Anthony Simmons)
1997: 2 (Trevor Pryce, Dexter McCleon)
1996: 2 (Patrick Sapp, Brian Dawkins)
1995: 0
1994: 1 (Brentson Buckner)
1993: 2 (Wayne Simmons, James Trapp)
1992: 2 (Chester McGlockton, Levon Kirkland)
1991: 4 (Jerome Henderson, Doug Thomas, John Johnson, Chris Gardocki)
1990: 0
1989: 1 (Donnell Woolford)
1988: 2 (Michael Dean Perry, Tony Stephens)
1987: 3 (Terrence Flagler, Kenny Flowers, Delton Hall)
1986: 0
1985: 3 (William Perry, Ty Davis, Dale Hatcher)
1984: 1 (Rod McSwain)
1983: 2 (Terry Kinard, Cliff Austin)
1982: 2 (Jeff Bryant, Perry Tuttle)
1981: 0
1980: 1 (Jim Stuckey)
1979: 3 (Jerry Butler, Steve Fuller, Joe Bostic)

A few quick thoughts:

-- Did you notice Bostic is the only offensive lineman on the list? Ouch.

-- A kicker (Gardocki) and a punter (Hatcher) taken in the top three rounds underscores the importance of greatness at both positions. And that doesn't even include David Treadwell.

-- One pick in the top three rounds (Gardner) from 2000 to 2003. And zero draft picks, period, in the 2000 and 2002 drafts. Provides a pretty good indication of the talent (or lack thereof) Tommy Bowden inherited in 1999.

LW