The Highest Selected Wake Forest Players in NFL Draft History

Rolando Rosa Sports Betting Expert

3 minute read

Wake Forest has had at least one player selected in every NFL Draft since 2017.

With a pair of intriguing defensive back prospects for the 2024 NFL Draft, the Demon Deacons could extend the streak. Caelen Carson and Malik Mustapha were each vital components of Wake Forest’s defense hoping to hear their names called. 

The 6-foot, 195-pound Carson compiled 120 tackles, three interceptions, and two fumble recoveries in four seasons at Wake Forest. The 5-foot-11, 207-pound Mustapha spent three seasons as a Demon Deacon, tallying 175 tackles, three interceptions, and two fumble recoveries. 

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As the draft approaches, let’s reflect on the highest-selected Wake Forest players of all time. 

No. 2 pick in the 1961 NFL Draft: QB Norm Snead (Washington Redskins)

The late Norm Snead is the highest draft pick in Wake Forest history, going second overall to the then-Washington Redskins in 1961. The 6-foot-4, 215-pound quarterback played three seasons with the Demon Deacons, who retired his No. 16.

In 1958, Snead was a Second-team All-ACC selection after completing 67 of his 151 passes for 1,003 yards. Snead followed that up with a 1959 campaign in which he went 82-for-91 with 1,361 yards en route to being a First-team All-ACC selection. 

In Snead’s final college season, he was 123-for-259 with 1,676 yards and earned another First-team All-ACC nod as well as being a Second-team All-American by the FWAA and UPI. 

During his 16 seasons in the NFL, Snead was selected to the Pro Bowl four times with three different franchises (Redskins, Philadelphia Eagles, New York Giants). In 1972, Snead led the NFL in completion percentage (60.3) as a member of the Giants. 

No. 4 pick in the 2009 NFL Draft: LB Aaron Curry (Seattle Seahawks)

Despite arriving on campus as a two-star prospect, Aaron Curry departed as the highest Wake Forest linebacker ever drafted. The Seattle Seahawks selected Curry with the No. 4 pick in the 2009 NFL Draft. Curry’s pro career was short-lived but that doesn’t diminish his excellence as a Demon Deacon. 

The 6-foot-2, 255-pound native of Fayetteville, North Carolina only received offers from Wake Forest and East Carolina but silenced his critics. 

In 2005, Curry was chosen as a Second-team Freshman All-American and ACC All-Freshman Team by The Sporting News after being Wake Forest’s fifth-leading tackler (39). As a sophomore, Curry was second on Wake Forest in tackles (83). 

Curry elevated his game even further as a junior, recording 99 tackles and tying an NCAA linebacker record with three interceptions returned for touchdowns to earn a Second-team All-American selection. 

During a sensational senior season, Curry amassed 105 tackles (16 for loss) en route to capturing the Butkus Award, plus being selected as a First-team All-American and First-team All-ACC member. Curry is tenth all-time in tackles (332) in Wake Forest history. 

No. 10 pick in the 1945 NFL Draft: B/LB Elmer Barbour (New York Giants)

The late Elmer Barbour served as an excellent blocking back and linebacker for Wake Forest during the 1940s. The 6-foot-1, 200-pound Barbour excelled as an all-state player at Durham High School before joining the Demon Deacons. 

In 1943, Barbour was a co-captain for Wake Forest and a member of the All-Southern Conference team. As a senior, Barbour was once again a captain and All-Southern Conference team selection as Wake Forest posted an 8-1 record. Barbour also earned the Jacobs Blocking Trophy. 

In 2003, Barbour was inducted into the Wake Forest Hall of Fame. 

Barbour was picked tenth overall in 1945 by the New York Giants and only lasted one season in the pros. 

No. 15 pick in the 1946 NFL Draft: G/LB Elmer Jones (New York Giants)

The late Elmer Jones was selected with the No. 15 pick in the 1946 NFL Draft by the New York Giants. However, the 6-foot, 224-pound guard/linebacker elected to begin his pro career with his hometown Buffalo Bisons of the All-American Football Conference. After spending a season with the Bisons, Jones played two seasons in the NFL with the Detroit Lions. 

No. 16 pick in the 2015 NFL Draft: DB Kevin Johnson (Houston Texans)

The Houston Texans picked defensive back Kevin Johnson with the No. 16 selection in the 2015 NFL Draft. According to ESPN, the 6-foot, 185-pound Johnson arrived under the radar at Wake Forest as the nation’s No. 45 ranked cornerback. As a redshirt sophomore, Johnson was second in the ACC in passes defended (18) along with three interceptions and 58 tackles. 

The following season, Johnson once again had 58 tackles and three interceptions to be selected All-ACC honorable mention from the media. 

In 2014, Johnson tallied 43 tackles and tied for the most pass breakups on Wake Forest (6). In addition to his 189 tackles and seven interceptions, Johnson departed Wake Forest with the fourth-most pass breakups in program history (35). 

Johnson played for the Texans from 2015 to 2018, then one season each with the Buffalo Bills and Cleveland Browns to conclude his NFL career. He recorded 199 tackles, 22 pass deflections, 1.5 sacks, an interception, and a forced fumble as a pro.

Rolando Rosa

Rolando Rosa is a South Florida native and graduate of Florida Atlantic University. Rolando is a sports editor/writer and has worked on casino content for the past few years across multiple websites. More from Rolando Rosa