Several former Virginia high school standouts were selected in the 2021 NFL Draft over the weekend.
Former Bethel High School (Hampton) linebacker Jeremiah Owusu-Koramoah was picked by the Cleveland Browns at No. 52 overall in the second-round of the draft on Friday (April 30.)
Former Grassfield High School defensive end Patrick Jones II was selected at No. 90 overall in the third-round by the Minnesota Vikings on Friday.
Former Hampton High School wide receiver Dazz Newsome was selected at No. 221 overall in the sixth-round on Saturday (May 1.)
Owusu-Koramoah was the ACC Defensive Player of the Year, a unanimous All-American, the Butkus Award winner and a first-team All-ACC linebacker at the University of Notre Dame in 2020.
Jones was a consensus first team All-American and a first team All-ACC defensive end for the University of Pittsburgh in 2020.
Newsome led the University of North Carolina with 72 receptions for 1,018 yards and 10 touchdowns, earning second team All-ACC honors, in 2019.
The Hampton Roads area has produced several former NFL stars including Pro Football Hall of Fame defensive end and former No. 1 overall pick Bruce Smith (1985), former Pro Bowl quarterback and No. 1 overall pick Michael Vick (2001), former Pro Bowl cornerback DeAngelo Hall (2004), former Super Bowl champion wide receiver and No. 8 overall pick Plaxico Burress (No. 8) and former Super Bowl champion, Pro Bowl linebacker and No. 10 overall pick Jerod Mayo (2008), among others.
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