With the 2016 NFL Draft now just one day away, draft eligible Terps are finalizing their plans on how they'll watch the picks roll in.
While this is an exciting event for the players, it can also be extremely nerve-racking. Because of that, nearly all of the former Terps have chosen to remain low-key and enjoy the days of the draft with their family.
Defensive end Yannick Ngakoue, who many experts expect to go as high as the third round after ranking second nationally in sacks in 2015, is going to watch the draft at his mother's house with a small group of family members.
“I didn't want to do anything too big,” explained Ngakoue. “I'm just excited to hear my name called. The stress will be replaced with a lot of joy and happiness.”
Ngakoue, a Bowie native who went to high school at Friendship Collegiate, is also excited to be one of the next players to represent the DMV and the University of Maryland in the NFL.
“It means a lot because there could be a few of us going into the NFL this year,” said Ngakoue. “It shows that you can play at the next level after coming to Maryland. It shows a lot of the local kids in the DMV that they can stay home and still get to the NFL.”
Another local athlete, Sean Davis, plans to watch the draft with his parents and siblings at their house in Temple Hills.
Davis, who excelled at both the NFL Combine and at his pro day at Maryland, has steadily been moving up all mock draft boards. Many have the 6-1, 201 pound defensive back going in the second round.
Quinton Jefferson is heading back to Pittsburgh to watch the draft with his family.
“It'll be great to relax and watch it with my parents, wife and kids,” said Jefferson. “After I find out where I'm selected, I plan on having a bigger get-together with all of my friends and family to celebrate.”
Brad Craddock has a different theory than his former teammates on the NFL Draft. With his parents in town from Australia to be on hand for his graduation, Craddock plans on enjoying the time with them and not focusing on the draft.
“I'm not even sure I'll watch,” explained Craddock. “I'll be with my parents and it'll be a normal weekend of training and catching up with them. I'm not worried about things I can't control.”
One thing these players can control is how hard they work and the impact they have at the next level after they get drafted.
“The draft is something you'll remember for the rest of your life,” said Ngakoue. “But after I hear my name called, I'm going to be ready to just get into minicamp and start going to work.”
-Terps-
