Miami Sets NFL Draft Record With 11 Selections
April 21, 2002
CORAL GABLES, Fla. (www.hurricanesports.com) – Five more Miami Hurricanes were selected on the final day of the 2002 National Football League Draft on Sunday as the University of Miami football program set a new record for production of NFL draft picks for a single season with 11 selections. That total is the most ever produced by one school since the NFL Draft went to a seven round format in 1994.
Five UM student-athletes were selected on Sunday – offensive guard Martin Bibla (4th round, Atlanta Falcons), running back Najeh Davenport (4th round, Green Bay Packers), safety James Lewis (6th round, Indianapolis Colts), receiver Daryl Jones (7th round, New York Giants) and offensive tackle Joaquin Gonzalez (7th round, Cleveland Browns) – giving UM a total of 18 players taken in the 2001 and 2002 drafts. That two-year total ties for the second-highest amount all-time for any college football program, one behind the mark of 19 set by Miami in 1987-88 and Southern California in 1968-69 and 1973-74. Miami’s total matches USC’s 1980-81 total of 18 draft picks.
Miami’s previous high for a seven-round draft was the eight selections in 1997. The most Hurricanes selected in a single NFL Draft was 12 in 1988 (eight round format), followed by 11 in 1963 (25 rounds) and 9 in 1993 (eight rounds). Miami has produced two No. 1 selections in the draft: Vinny Testaverde (1987 by Tampa Bay) and Russell Maryland (1991 by Dallas). The most players selected in a single NFL Draft from a single school is 14 set by USC in 1975 and duplicated in 1977.
Miami’s five first-rounders on Saturday tied the record for most players from a single school taken in the first round, originally set by Southern California in 1969. That total eclipsed Miami’s old best of four set last year when defensive tackle Damione Lewis (11th, St. Louis Rams), linebacker Dan Morgan (12th, Carolina Panthers), receiver Santana Moss (16th, New York Jets), and receiver Reggie Wayne (30th, Indianapolis Colts) were taken in the first round.
Miami has produced 260 NFL draft picks in its history, dating back to end Bob Masterson’s selection in the fourth round of the 1938 Draft by the Chicago Bears.
Miami Players Selected in the 2002 NFL Draft:
Player Round (Pick) Team
Bryant McKinnie, Tackle 1 (7) MinnesotaJeremy Shockey, Tight End 1 (14) N.Y. GiantsPhillip Buchanon, Cornerback 1 (17) OaklandEdward Reed, Safety 1 (24) BaltimoreMike Rumph, Cornerback 1 (26) San FranciscoClinton Portis, Running back 2 (51) DenverMartin Bibla, Guard 4 (116) AtlantaNajeh Davenport, Running back 4 (135) Green BayJames Lewis, Safety 6 (183) IndianapolisDaryl Jones, Receiver 7 (226) N.Y. GiantsJoaquin Gonzalez, Tackle 7 (227) Cleveland
Hurricanes Storm Into the NFL
During the last 16 years, National Football League teams have turned to the University of Miami more than any other college or university when it comes to premium picks in the annual draft. The following chart illustrates college programs that have produced the most players selected in the first three rounds from 1987 to 2002.
Team 1 2 3 TotalMiami (Fla.) 30 15 11 56Florida State 21 14 16 51Tennessee 20 16 12 48Notre Dame 13 17 11 41Florida 19 9 10 38Texas A&M 10 7 21 38Ohio State 19 6 12 37Penn State 12 9 15 36
