NFL players from Wake Forest
61 NFL players on file played college football at Wake Forest. 17 are on NFL rosters now, among them Jessie Bates III, Greg Dortch, and Justin Strnad. Ricky Proehl has played the most NFL seasons of them, 17. 2 were first-round picks, most recently Aaron Curry in 2009. Rosters are on file in full from 1993; before that only some of the stars are.
On NFL rosters now (17)
| Player | Pos | Years | Seasons | Draft |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Jessie Bates IIIATL | S | 2018–2026 | 9 | 2018, Rd 2, Pk 54 |
| Greg DortchBUF | WR | 2019–2026 | 7 | — |
| Justin StrnadDEN | LB | 2021–2026 | 6 | 2020, Rd 5, Pk 178 |
| Ja'Sir TaylorCIN | CB | 2022–2025 | 4 | 2022, Rd 6, Pk 214 |
| Kobie TurnerLAR | DE | 2023–2026 | 4 | 2023, Rd 3, Pk 89 |
| Zach Bako-BeweleGB | OT | 2022–2026 | 4 | 2022, Rd 4, Pk 140 |
| Alex BachmanLAR | WR | 2021–2025 | 3 | — |
| Blake WhiteheartCLE | TE | 2024–2026 | 3 | — |
| Malik MustaphaSF | S | 2024–2026 | 3 | 2024, Rd 4, Pk 124 |
| Branson CombsJAX | LB | 2025–2026 | 2 | — |
| Caelen CarsonDAL | CB | 2024–2025 | 2 | 2024, Rd 5, Pk 174 |
| Demond ClaiborneMIN | RB | 2026 | 1 | 2026, Rd 6, Pk 198 |
| Karon PruntyNE | CB | 2026 | 1 | 2026, Rd 5, Pk 171 |
| Jayden LovingCHI | DT | No games yet | — | — |
| Lardarius Webb Jr.BAL | CB | No games yet | — | — |
| Michael JurgensMIN | C | No games yet | — | 2024, Rd 7, Pk 230 |
| Nick AndersenLAR | S | No games yet | — | — |
Former NFL players (44)
| Player | Pos | Years | Seasons | Draft |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Ricky Proehl | WR | 1990–2006 | 17 | — |
| Calvin Pace | LB | 2003–2015 | 13 | 2003, Rd 1, Pk 18 |
| Desmond Clark | TE | 1999–2010 | 12 | 1999, Rd 6, Pk 179 |
| Fred Robbins | DT | 2000–2011 | 12 | 2000, Rd 2, Pk 55 |
| Michael McCrary | DE | 1993–2002 | 10 | — |
| Harry Newsome | P | 1985–1993 | 9 | — |
| Kyle Wilber | LB | 2012–2020 | 9 | 2012, Rd 4, Pk 113 |
| Ovie Mughelli | FB | 2003–2011 | 9 | 2003, Rd 4, Pk 134 |
| Walter Rasby | TE | 1995–2004 | 9 | — |
| Jay Williams | DE | 1997–2004 | 8 | — |
| Joe Zelenka | C | 2000–2010 | 7 | — |
| John Henry Mills | RB | 1993–1999 | 7 | — |
| Eric King | CB | 2005–2010 | 6 | 2005, Rd 5, Pk 156 |
| Dustin Lyman | TE | 2000–2004 | 5 | — |
| Tommy Bohanon | FB | 2013–2018 | 5 | 2013, Rd 7, Pk 215 |
| Aaron Curry | LB | 2009–2012 | 4 | 2009, Rd 1, Pk 4 |
| Alphonso Smith | DB | 2009–2012 | 4 | 2009, Rd 2, Pk 37 |
| Brandon Ghee | CB | 2010–2014 | 4 | 2010, Rd 3, Pk 96 |
| Chris Givens | WR | 2012–2015 | 4 | 2012, Rd 4, Pk 96 |
| George Coghill | DB | 1998–2001 | 4 | — |
| Josh Bush | S | 2012–2015 | 4 | 2012, Rd 6, Pk 187 |
| Jyles Tucker | LB | 2007–2010 | 4 | — |
| Michael Campanaro | WR | 2014–2017 | 4 | 2014, Rd 7, Pk 218 |
| David Braxton | LB | 1991–1994 | 3 | — |
| Ryan Plackemeier | P | 2006–2008 | 3 | 2006, Rd 7, Pk 239 |
| Steve Vallos | OT | 2008–2012 | 3 | 2007, Rd 7, Pk 232 |
| Jeremy Thompson | LB | 2008–2009 | 2 | 2008, Rd 4, Pk 102 |
| Joe Looney | G | 2018–2020 | 2 | 2012, Rd 4, Pk 117 |
| Kelvin Moses | LB | 2001–2002 | 2 | — |
| Kenny Moore | WR | 2009–2010 | 2 | 2008, Rd 5, Pk 136 |
| Reggie Austin | DB | 2001–2002 | 2 | — |
| Thabiti Davis | WR | 2000–2001 | 2 | — |
| Chip Vaughn | S | 2010 | 1 | 2009, Rd 4, Pk 116 |
| Chris Barclay | RB | 2007 | 1 | — |
| Chris Davis | WR | 2007 | 1 | — |
| Chris DeGeare | OG | 2010 | 1 | 2010, Rd 5, Pk 161 |
| John Stone | WR | 2004 | 1 | — |
| Josh Gattis | S | 2007 | 1 | 2007, Rd 5, Pk 150 |
| Kenny Okoro | DB | 2014 | 1 | — |
| Montique Sharpe | DT | 2003 | 1 | 2003, Rd 7, Pk 16 |
| Nikita Whitlock | FB | 2015 | 1 | — |
| Quintin Williams | DB | 2004 | 1 | — |
| Stanley Arnoux | LB | 2010 | 1 | 2009, Rd 4, Pk 118 |
| Tyson Clabo | OT | 2013 | 1 | — |
College as ESPN lists it for each player; the draft line is ESPN’s too. Most seasons first.