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Although the SEC received most of the press in this year’s NFL Draft due to elite players like Auburn quarterback Cam Newton and LSU cornerback Patrick Peterson, the ACC also had a good showing with three players selected in the first round.

Christian Ponder, a quarterback from Florida State, was selected by the Minnesota Vikings with the 12th pick. Although he is a talented player, most talent evaluators thought this was a considerable reach by the Vikings. Minnesota, desperately looking for a new quarterback since the retirement of Brett Favre, panicked after both Blaine Gabbert and Jake Locker came off the board in quick succession.

Robert Quinn, a defensive end from North Carolina, was selected by the St. Louis Rams with the 14th pick. A solid pass rusher, he raw talent level may have justified an earlier selection. However, a benign brain tumor had some teams questioning his long-term health. In addition, his character became an issue after he was suspended for the entire 2010 season as part of the UNC football scandal.

Finally, Anthony Castonzo, a tackle from Boston College, was drafted with the 23rd pick by the Indianapolis Colts. Castonzo demonstrates a solid technique with no glaring weaknesses, a perfect selection for a team looking to reinforce its line to protect quarterback Peyton Manning.What’s 1 more click? Your boss isn’t watching… 2011 Minnesota Vikings: An In-Depth Look at Quarterback Christian Ponder

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