KANSAS CITY, Mo. — The 2023 NFL Draft continues, and some aspiring players with Charlotte ties are getting a chance to dance under the lights as professional footballers.
The Arizona Cardinals got the 72nd overall pick in the 2023 NFL Draft. To boost their defensive line, they decided to look to a Charlotte-area alum to add to the roster.
Garrett Williams, who hails from Harrisburg, was called up by the team Friday during the second round of the draft. He's a defensive back who comes to the Cardinals after a college career at Syracuse.
Williams graduated from Hickory Ridge High School. The NFL notes during his time in school, he became an all-region pick. That would lead to more successes for Williams when he joined the Orange. He redshirted his freshman year, playing in four games on special teams with no statistics to report. However, he became one of the ACC's top cornerbacks in 2020 with 64 tackles and two interceptions on his card.
He tied for the conference lead with 10 pass breakups to earn honorable mention all-league notice. He tied for conference league again with 10 pass breakups in 2021, and was a 2022 honorable mention again even though he missed the second half of the season with a torn ACL.
Meanwhile, the Baltimore Ravens found someone whose career was crafted entirely in the Carolinas: Trenton Simpson, a linebacker who became the 86th pick of the draft. Originally from Charlotte and a graduate of Mallard Creek, Simpson was a top-20 recruit out of high school and was picked up by Clemson, a short trip down I-85.
While with the Tigers, Simpson was a true freshman, starting three of 12 games and racking up 28 tackles. In 2021, the NFL notes he racked up 64 tackles, 12 for loss, with six sacks in 13 games in 2021. He was also a third-team All-ACC selection in 2022 with 72 tackles, albeit missing the Orange Bowl due to an ankle injury. After earning a pair of ACC Championships with the Tigers, Simpson declared for the 2023 draft in December 2022.
The Buffalo Bills closed Friday by selecting Tulane linebacker and Indian Land, South Carolina native Dorian Williams with the 91st pick. A three-year starter, Williams earned All-AAC honors during his senior season in finishing with 131 tackles, including 8 1/2 for a loss, a team-high five sacks, two interceptions and two forced fumbles.
The 21-year-old finished his career with 17 tackles to be named the Cotton Bowl MVP in a 46-45 win over Southern California. At 6-foot-1 and 228 pounds, Williams joins a defense that plays a two-linebacker scheme, and lost starter Tremaine Edmunds in free agency last month.
With the first pick of the final day of the 2023 NFL Draft and 103rd pick overall, the New Orleans Saints selected Old Dominion offensive lineman and Waxhaw, North Carolina native Nick Saldiveri.
An alum of Parkwood High School, Saldiveri was a two-star recruit by 247Sports and earned first-team All-Southern Carolina’s Conference. During his time at Parkwood, Saldiveri was also on the track and field team throwing the shot put and discus.
Three more homegrown players would get called up in the seventh round. Jovaughn Gwyn, a Gamecocks standout and Harding University High School alum, was called up by the Atlanta Falcons. He helped his alma mater high school to a 2017 state championship run and just wrapped up an all-SEC career in Columbia.
Meanwhile, Wingate University sees Ethan Evans head out east to the Los Angeles Rams as a punter. He's originally from Mt. Airy and a graduate of North Surry High School.
A second Hickory Ridge High School alum would get the call Saturday: Jalen Brooks, who most recently spent his college career with the Gamecocks. He'll be headed to Texas to be a wide receiver for the Dallas Cowboys.
The Charlotte 49ers got some pro representation as well. Wide receiver Grant DuBose was called to join the Green Bay Packers. It'll be another major move for him; he's originally from Montgomery, Alabama.