While the 2020 NFL Draft only recently concluded, Athlon is already taking a look ahead at the 2021 Draft.
Pitt may have had only one player selected in this year’s draft (7th Round selection Dane Jackson) but the Panthers should improve on that in 2021. Athlon currently projects four Panthers in their top 25 list of ACC players available for next year’s draft — safety Paris Ford, offensive lineman Jimmy Morrissey, and defensive linemen Patrick Jones and Jaylen Twyman.
How does that stack up against the rest of the conference? Pitt’s four players is topped only by six projected for ACC Champion Clemson.
Obviously, trying to project a draft a full season away is not an easy task. Other rising juniors that will be eligible will emerge and prove themselves to be worthy of being on this list. But at the very least, we know those are all standout players for the Panthers. That returning talent for the program is one reason I’m cautiously optimistic for the team to have a nice year.
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