5 biggest NFL draft busts in Virginia Tech football history

Virginia Tech football hasn't produced many first-round NFL draft picks, but most of the very highly drafted players have panned out in the league. These later first-round selections, however, haven't worked out as well and are the biggest draft busts.

Tennessee Titans cornerback Caleb Farley (3) drops back in coverage during the first quarter of a / George Walker IV / USA TODAY NETWORK

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player. David Wilson. David Wilson, RB. 2012. No. 32 overall. David Wilson, RB. 4. 31. .

Coming off their second Super Bowl in five years, the Giants thought that they could splurge on a luxury item with the final pick of the first round in 2012. New York had Ahmad Bradshaw and Brandon Jacobs in 2011 and that was enough to beat the Patriots again, but Wilson was the 2011 ACC Player of the Year and New York thought he could take its offense to another level.

Wilson had run for 1,709 yards and nine touchdowns in his final year at Virginia Tech, but his game did not translate to the NFL. At 5-foot-10 205 pounds, Wilson was undersized for the league and that would ultimately cost him his career.

On his second career carry for New York, Wilson fumbled and was put in the doghouse. He played 16 games as a rookie but only ran for 358 yards and four touchdowns on 71 carries. He was primarily used as a kick-returner and was named second-team All-Pro on special teams.

Then, in Year 2, Wilson played five games before he was placed on season-ending injured reserve with a spinal cord injury and he never played football again. Wilson was efficient as a runner in his rookie season, but he didn’t have enough size to withstand a high volume of carries in the league.

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