Going home: Falcons take Clemson’s Beasley

At the end of his junior campaign, Clemson defensive end Vic Beasley was projected as a second rounder in the 2014 NFL draft.

He decided to return for his senior year to get better and – hopefully – see his stock rise.

Thursday night in Chicago, the former Adairsville High (Ga.) product learned that delayed gratification can be the best kind.

An All-America senior season and solid postseason work helped propel Beasley into the first round of the 2015 draft, where the Atlanta Falcons – his favorite team – made him the eighth selection overall.

“I think it’s awesome to have a guy who grew up a Falcons fan and wants to be here,” Atlanta coach Dan Quinn said.

The 6-foot-3, 246-pound-Beasley, who owns the Clemson record for most career sacks (33), is the third consecutive Tiger to go in the first round. DeAndre Hopkins was picked 27th in the 2013 draft (Houston) and Sammy Watkins was the No. 4 pick by Buffalo in 2014.

“I’m so excited,” Beasley said after he was able to sit down and talk with media members. “There’s no better place than the Falcons.”

Beasley could make an immediate impact for a defense that finished last in the league in 2014 and is in dire need of a pass rusher. Quinn, former defensive coordinator of the Seattle Seahawks, oversaw a unit that played a 4-3 with plenty of Cover-3, and often lined up in what looked to be a 3-4.

Atlanta switched to a 3-4 defense last season.

“Beasley’s speed and athleticism were what attracted us most to him,” Quinn said.

Falcons general manager Thomas Dimitroff said Beasley was on the franchise’s radar from the outset.

“We are adding pass rush to the defense and Vic is going to be a nice addition for us,” Dimitroff said. “We were focused on Vic from the very beginning and glad we didn’t have to get antsy to jump up and get him.

“If there was a run on pass rushers, it could have forced us to move up to get Vic.”

While a standout defensive end in college and a player touted as an elite edge rusher, Beasley is expected has been eyed as an outside linebacker in the NFL.

An excellent combine and pro day helped augment Beasley’s credentials; aside from his sacks (he had 12 in 2014), Beasley recorded 52.5 career tackles for loss, including 21.5 last season. He was a consensus All-American in 2013 and 2014 and was named the ACC Defensive Player of the Year in 2014 in helping the Tigers finish as the nation’s top defensive unit.

“I’m a double-digit sack guy,” Beasley said.

Banks McFadden (1939), Gaines Adams (2007) and Watkins (2014) are the school’s highest draft choices, going fourth overall. In the history of the NFL draft, the Tigers have 25 first round selections.

This story was originally published April 30, 2015 at 9:04 PM.