No First-Round NFL Draft
Picks From Miami?
The University of Miami has
had at least one first-round pick in each of the
last 13 NFL drafts. But that streak is in danger
of coming to an end this year.
Two Hurricanes -- safety Kenny Phillips and defensive
end Calais Campbell -- have a chance of going in the
first round, but neither is better than a 50-50 bet.
(ESPN's Mel Kiper said today that he thinks Campbell is
more likely than Phillips to go in Round 1.) A few
other Hurricanes -- including linebacker Tavares
Gooden, wide receiver Darnell Jenkins, cornerback Glenn
Sharpe and quarterback Kyle Wright -- could be drafted,
but not on the first day.
I've heard some people suggest that the absence of a
first-round pick is a major sign of the decline in the
talent level at Miami. There's some truth to that, but
don't shed any tears for the Miami program. There's so
much great talent that comes out of South Florida --
and Miami coach Randy Shannon seems like such a good
recruiter -- that even if there are no first-round
picks in Miami this year, I see it as more a blip than
a trend.
(aolsports.com)