Hurricanes no longer blow through draft: Miami gets shut out of first round

NEW YORK — Once the nation's foremost football factory, the University of Miami barely got a mention during this year's NFL draft.

The U's streak of 14 years with at least one first-round draft pick was snapped Saturday. Then Sunday came, and just how far the Hurricanes' talent-level has fallen since Butch Davis left for the NFL and handed the program to Larry Coker in 2001 was magnified.

The first and only Miami player drafted went in the sixth round. Linebacker Spencer Adkins was taken 176th overall by the Atlanta Falcons.

In fact, Miami, Ohio, had just as many players selected this year.

The previous time no Miami player was taken in the opening three rounds was 1986. For the record, the last time no Hurricanes were drafted was 1974.

Miami has gone 19-19 over the past three seasons.

Perennial doormat Temple even had a player taken before Miami. Defensive tackle Terrance Knighton was selected in the third round by Jacksonville.

In fact, the first Temple Owls player came off the board before anyone from Michigan (defensive tackle Terrance Taylor to Indianapolis with the 136th overall pick), Nebraska (linebacker Cody Glenn to Washington with the 158th overall pick), Notre Dame (defensive back David Bruton to Denver with the 114th overall pick) and Virginia Tech (cornerback Victor Harris to Philadelphia with the 157th overall pick).

As for Miami, its record-setting run started in 1995 with star defensive tackle Warren Sapp taken by Tampa Bay. The list of All-Pros and Pro Bowl players from Miami over the last two decades is staggering. A sampling: Ray Lewis, Ed Reed, Edgerrin James, Reggie Wayne, Santana Moss, Willis McGahee, Jon Vilma and Sean Taylor.

In all, 33 Miami players - including an NFL-record six in 2004 alone - were taken in the first round of drafts since 1995, by far the most of any school. The second-longest current streak of first-round selections is six years by LSU.
Until Miami's string came along, Florida held the record of first-round selections with nine consecutive drafts (1983-1991).

Prospects are good for a turnaround for Miami. Coach Randy Shannon has had highly rated recruiting classes the past two seasons, but in many ways this draft could be viewed as rock bottom for the once great program.

(ap.com)