After two seasons as a 12-team conference, the ACC still generates plenty of discussion over whether it was better off with only nine members.

On one matter, though, there is no debate. When it comes to putting football players in the NFL draft, the post-expansion ACC has been an unprecedented, overwhelming success.

Last year, the ACC set an all-time NFL record — for any conference, in any year — when 12 of its gridiron products were chosen in the first round. Leading the way were N.C. State defensive end Mario Williams (the first overall selection), Virginia offensive tackle D’Brickashaw Ferguson (fourth), Maryland tight end Vernon Davis (sixth) and Florida State linebacker Ernie Sims (ninth).

Overall, the ACC had 51 players selected in last year’s draft — another all-time NFL record, for any conference — after its first season (2005) as a 12-team league. That performance shattered its previous record of 36 selections, set in April 2005, the spring after its first season (2004) at 11 teams.

"That’s a sign of a healthy conference,” Virginia Tech coach Frank Beamer said. “There’s a lot more to it, for our program or for anyone else, but (producing a lot of draft picks) is always a good sign. You’re doing something right, and that’s one way to measure it.”

Prior to the additions of Miami and Virginia Tech in 2004, then Boston College in 2005, the ACC averaged 13.6 NFL draft picks per year in the 1970s, 20.6 per year in the 1980s, 24.2 per year in the 1990s, and 20.8 per year from 2000-04.

The league’s two Florida schools have, by far, the most impressive track records when it comes to generating NFL-caliber talent. Miami has produced 286 draft picks, including 56 first-rounders, in the history of its program. Florida State, which joined the ACC in 1992, has sent 208 players into the draft, including 33 first-rounders.

“That’s one of those questions you hear in recruiting,” FSU coach Bobby Bowden said. “How many have you sent to the NFL, and how many (times) are you on TV?”

Here are the all-time NFL draft numbers for the rest of the league: North Carolina 197 selections (16 in first round), Maryland 192 (15), Georgia Tech 191 (8), Clemson 189 (20), Boston College 181 (14), Duke 149 (6), Virginia 139 (13), N.C. State 135 (15), Wake Forest 115 (2), Virginia Tech 111 (6).

The ACC is not expected to dominate this year’s draft, which will be held April 28-29 at Radio City Music Hall in New York City, but the conference will have a significant presence at the event — and in the first round — nevertheless.

The league's four North Carolina-based teams don't have many candidates for first-round consideration, but all four programs are expected to have players picked in the seven-round draft.

Coming Wednesday: The ACC's Top 2007 Prospects

Coming Friday: The Best Big Four Prospects

Also: The latest edition of the ACC Sports Journal is now available at ACCSports.com and on many newsstands. The issue, the first of two on ACC spring football, includes overviews, projected lineups, schedules and analysis for eight programs, plus an analysis of the quarterback situations at all 12 schools. It also includes some postseason ACC basketball analysis, quotable quotes from the league's coaches and administrators, profiles of Class of 2007 football and basketball signees, and dozens of updates from the high school basketball recruiting trail.