With every NFL team checking and rechecking their draft boards to prepare for the NFL Draft, which begins Thursday and goes through Saturday, we took some time to check in on our draft board to find some players who may be drafted who came up through the D.C. private school circuit.
Cam Johnson, DE – Virginia (Gonzaga)
Projected: 3rd to 4th Round Pick
Four years in a college weight room can do wonders for some players’ physiques. As a 228-pound senior at Gonzaga, Johnson starred at wide receiver and cornerback for the Purple Eagles before committing to Virginia as the No. 38 safety in the country. Four years later, the 270-pound Johnson is a two-time Third Team All-ACC selection at defensive end, attempting to be drafted as a 4-3 defensive end or an outside linebacker.
Johnson’s best year with the Cavaliers was undoubtedly his junior season in 2010. He set career highs in tackles (53), sacks (6.5), and tackles for loss (14.5). Johnson is looking to sneak into the second day as a third round pick.
Johnson Bademosi, FS – Stanford (Gonzaga)
Projected: 6th or 7th Round Pick
After earning First Team All-WCAC honors as a cornerback and return man at Gonzaga in 2007, Bademosi went to Stanford. There, he was planning to be a defensive back and also to run track for the Cardinals.
He played as a true freshman in five games, making his first start against Arizona State as a sophomore. It was the first of 27 career starts at cornerback for Bademosi. His most prolific year came as a senior, in which he started all 13 games, and recorded a career-high 44 tackles.
His speed is his calling card, as he ran a 4.36 40 at the Stanford Pro Day. He is projected as a possible third day pick at free safety.
Ian Thomas, MLB – Illinois (DeMatha)
Projection: 7th Round Pick
After Thomas captured four straight state titles at DeMatha, he decided to take on the Big Ten as part of the Fighting Illini.
He was a tackling machine for Illinois, totaling over 66 tackles in each of his last three seasons in Champaign, and topping the 85-tackle plateau two years of those three. In his senior year, he brought down the ballcarrier for a loss 10.5 times, just half of a tackle behind his total for each of the first three seasons.
Antwon Bailey, RB – Syracuse (St. John’s)
Projected: 7th Round Pick/Free Agent Signee
Antwon Bailey proved that he could run the football in high school at St. John’s when he won the Gatorade Player of the Year award for the D.C. area in 2007. His career at Syracuse was just an extension of that production.
His senior year he won First Team All-Big East honors by rushing for 1051 yards in his final season. He graduates ranked 16 in the Syracuse all-time rushing leaderboard. Bailey’s biggest impediment from reaching the pros is that his 5-foot-7 frame does not project well for handling the wear and tear of an NFL season. He is hoping to find a team that will draft him.
Cameron Chism, CB – Maryland (Bishop McNamara)
Projection: 7th Round Pick/Free Agent Signee
Chism came into Maryland as a highly touted cornerback prospect, as he was ranked the No. 20 cornerback in the class by Rivals.com. He won two first team All-WCAC awards in his last two years, along with first team All-State at McNamara.
He lived up to the lofty billing, amassing 191 tackles, seven interceptions and starting 32 consecutive games in his four seasons at College Park. As a senior he took two passes back for touchdowns, one of only three players in Maryland history to accomplish that feat. He also caused two defensive touchdowns against Miami, forcing a fumble that was returned for a touchdown, and returning a Jacory Harris pass for a fourth quarter interception.
Danny Coale, WR – Virginia Tech (Episcopal)
Projection: 7th Round Pick/Free Agent Signee
Coale, this year’s lone IAC alumnus and two time All-IAC honoree, is hoping to get drafted after an illustrious career for the Hokies of Virginia Tech. After redshirting his first year out of high school, Coale developed a niche as one of Tyrod Taylor’s favorite targets. Never was this clearer than his senior year, when he caught 60 passes for 904 yards. Coale was so widely used that he was quite possibly the only division 1 player this season to finish the season as a team’s leading receiver, along with starting punter and punt returner.
He has always been recognized for his work in the classroom, as this season he was a second team Academic All-American and first team Academic All-ACC. He seems like a decent bet to get drafted because of his versatility.
Rodney McLeod, FS – Virginia (DeMatha)
Projection: 7th Round Pick/Free Agent Signee
McLeod came from DeMatha expecting to be a wide receiver, but eventually switched over to defensive back.
In his sophomore season, McLeod finished fifth on the team in tackles with 62, no small accomplishment for a safety, who usually lag behind the linebackers and defensive linemen in tackles.
McLeod rewrote the Cavaliers record books when he picked off three passes in one game in 2011 against Maryland, tying the school record for interceptions in a game. McLeod is projected to be on the outside of the draft looking in. If he doesn’t get drafted, he will be hoping to catch on with a team in training camp of next season.
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