2 former 'Big 22' players taken in 1st round of NFL Draft Thursday

Two former Channel 9 Big 22 players were selected in the first round of the 2015 NFL Draft Thursday night.

D.J. Humphries

Florida's D.J. Humphries was picked with the No. 24 selection by the Arizona Cardinals. Humphries was a member of the 2011 Channel 9 Big 22 class.

SLIDESHOW: DJ Humphries at Mallard Creek

Humphries was a standout offensive tackle at Mallard Creek. He also played basketball and track.

He cleared the way for 2,000-yard rusher Jela Duncan. Duncan was also a former Channel 9 Big 22 player. Humphries did not allow a sack over the final three years at Mallard Creek.

Humphries was ranked as the No. 1 offensive tackle prospect and was recruited by several major Division I colleges, but chose Florida.

Humphries, 21, left Florida after his junior year.

He will compete for the starting right tackle job, according to Cardinals head coach Bruce Arians.

Stephone Anthony

Clemson's Stephone Anthony was selected with the No. 31 pick by the New Orleans Saints. Anthony was the first-ever Big 22 player of the year in 2010.

Anthony was a standout linebacker at Anson Senior High School. He was a four-year starter and recorded 123 tackles, four sacks and two interceptions as a senior in 2010.

Anthony was selected North Carolina Gatorade Player of the Year at Anson High School. He also played catcher on the baseball team and power forward on the basketball team.

Anthony was rated the No. 3 outside linebacker prospect and chose Clemson over UNC, Florida and Virginia Tech.

At Clemson, Anthony, 22, was an All-ACC first-teamer and a Butkus Award semifinalist in 2014. He was voted team captain at Clemson.

Another former Big 22 player,

, was taken with the first overall pick in the 2014 NFL Draft.

Clowney played at South Pointe High School and went on to play two years at South Carolina.

WSOC