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Last year an average of 12 million people tuned into the NFL Draft. To put that into perspective, game five of the 2014 NBA Finals mustered 15.5 million viewers. Winning on the field is all that matters for NFL teams, but winning on the field requires off season team building and Maryland has no shortage of NFL prospects. Several former Terps are hoping to hear their names called this weekend and many of them participated in the school's Pro Day earlier in April.
Stefon Diggs is obviously the primary person of interest for Maryland fans. Prior to his junior season, many speculated the wide receiver could be selected in the first round. Sadly for Terp fans, Diggs is projected to go somewhere in the third or fourth rounds by many prognosticators, including CBS. Could Diggs go higher? He certainly has the talent and work ethic to have a successful pro career, but his injury history leads to serious durability questions. Still, he might be a steal as a mid-second day selection.
Darius Kilgo is a beast of a nose tackle who had a very productive career at Maryland. Kilgo was a three-year starter along the defensive line, racking up 125 tackles and 5.5 sacks while soaking up blockers in Maryland's old 3-4 scheme. Kilgo is an on-the-edge prospect. He is projected to be drafted late, or potentially sign as a free agent, according to CBS.
Deon Long is another late round projection. Long has been described as a diamond in the rough, and certainly has the physical abilities to be a reliable NFL pass catcher. Teams might be scared away by Long's circuitous route to the NFL, but he should still be drafted in the sixth or seventh round.
Other former Terps who are hoping to hear their name called include Matt Robinson, Cole Farrand, Alex Twine, Spencer Myers, Andre Monroe, Jeremiah Johnson, L.A. Goree, Yannik Cudjoe-Virgil, Sal Conaboy, and Keith Bowers.
How to Watch
TV: NFL Network and ESPN starting at 7:00 p.m. ET
Radio: ESPN Radio (ESPN 980 in the D.C. area, or steaming sites like TuneIn Radio)
Streaming: Watch ESPN; NFL Mobile (Note: NFL Mobile only available on phones for free to Verizon customers)
To entertain yourself before the main event, check out SB Nation's Generate your own NFL Draft scouting report.