April 30, 2020

IMG Academy leads high school draftees

With the 2020 NFL Draft now concluded, the incoming class of drafted rookies will soon experience their first taste of NFL life.

And while the drafted rookies enter the NFL from a variety of different backgrounds, one thing they generally all have in common is an outstanding experience playing high school football.

A total of 234 high schools contributed to the 255 players selected in the seven rounds of the Draft on April 23-25.

IMG ACADEMY (Florida) led the way with four players selected, SAINT JOSEPH’S PREP (Pennsylvania) followed with three players selected, while 16 high schools – BLUE SPRINGS (Missouri), BULLIS (Maryland), CASS TECHNICAL (Michigan), CHRISTOPHER COLUMBUS (Florida), DE LA SALLE (Michigan), DEERFIELD BEACH (Florida), DEMATHA CATHOLIC (Maryland), DESOTO (Texas), HARRISON (Michigan), HIGHLAND SPRINGS (Virginia), KAHUKU (Hawaii), LAWRENCE ELKINS (Texas), LEE-MONTGOMERY (Alabama), OAKS CHRISTIAN (California), PACE ACADEMY (Georgia), and WYLIE (Texas) – each had two players selected.

“Playing at IMG Academy was amazing,” said Denver Broncos second round pick K.J. HAMLER, who attended the school alongside Cleveland Browns second round pick GRANT DELPIT, Minnesota Vikings fifth round pick K.J. OSBORN and New Orleans Saints first round pick CESAR RUIZ. “It prepared you for college from a school standpoint, in addition to training your body to be physically ready for college football.”

PREVIOUSLY ============

Virtual Draft sets all-time mark with 55M viewers

When: April 23 - 25, 2020

Round 1, Thursday, April 23, 7-10:30 p.m.

Rounds 2-3, Friday, April 24, 6-10:30 p.m.

Rounds 4-7 Saturday, April 25, 11 a.m.-6 p.m.

The 2020 NFL Draft was the most-watched edition of the event in league history.

The NFL had over 600 camera feeds in the homes of everyone from the Commissioner, more than 85 Draft prospects, 32 NFL Head Coaches, 32 NFL General Managers, Fans, College Football Coaches, and many others.

The draft, which was held in a virtual format and took place during a global pandemic, drew more than 55 million viewers across three days, the NFL announced. Viewership was up 16% from the 2019 event.

An average of 8.4 million viewers watched all three days of the broadcast.

"I couldn't be more proud of the efforts and collaboration of our clubs, league personnel, and our partners to conduct an efficient draft and share an unforgettable experience with millions of fans during these uncertain times," NFL commissioner Roger Goodell said in a statement.

The unique format featured Goodell announcing picks in the first, second, and third rounds from the basement of his home. It also included live look-ins at draft prospects celebrating with their families, and at general managers and coaches making picks from rooms in their homes.

Additionally, the league's Draft-A-Thon livestream raised $6.6 million for COVID-19 relief efforts.

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Future NFL draft locations

The 86th NFL Draft will take place in Cleveland, Ohio in 2021 at downtown locations around FirstEnergy Stadium, including the Rock & Roll Hall of Fame, as well as on the shore of Lake Erie.

2021 Downtown Cleveland Cleveland, OH

2022 Las Vegas, NV.

2023 Downtown Kansas City Kansas City, MO.