Hurricanes Lead The NFL Draft - Again
April 26, 2003
CORAL GABLES, Fla. (www.hurricanesports.com) – For the ninth year in a row, the Miami Hurricanes produced at least one First Round NFL Draft pick as four Hurricanes were selected in the first round and five UM players were chosen in the first three rounds on the first day of the 2003 National Football League Draft on Saturday.
The four first-round selections led all schools. It marks the third consecutive season that Miami has led the nation in first-round choices in the NFL Draft. Five UM players were first-round choices in 2002 and four were first-round selections in the 2001 Draft.
The four UM student-athletes selected in the first round Saturday afternoon – wide receiver Andre Johnson (Houston Texans), defensive end Jerome McDougle (Philadelphia Eagles), running back Willis McGahee (Buffalo Bills) and defensive tackle William Joseph (New York Giants) – gives UM a total of 13 players who have been taken in the first round over the 2001, 2002 and 2003 drafts. That three-year total is an all-time record for any college football program, surpassing the old mark of nine set by Southern California (USC) in 1968-69-70.
Miami’s nine first rounders over the last two years equals the mark set by UM in 2001 and 2002 and eclipses the old mark of seven set by USC in 1968-69 and matched by Notre Dame in 1993-94. Prior to the last three years, Miami’s previous best two-year total was five, achieved three times (1987-88, 1988-89 and 2000-01). Florida State also produced 5 first-round selections in 1995-96, as did Tennessee in 1991-92.
Defensive end Andrew Williams was the other Hurricane selected on Saturday, going to the San Francisco 49ers with the 25th pick of the third round with the 89th selection overall.
Last year, Miami’s five first-rounders tied the record for most players from a single school taken in the first round, originally set by Southern California in 1969. The four taken in 2003 ties for the second-best ever, a total also achieved by Miami in 2001.
Eighteen University of Miami football student-athletes are eligible for selection in this weekend’s draft, which continues with the final four rounds on Sunday and will be televised live by ESPN.
The most Hurricanes selected in a single NFL Draft were 12 in 1988, followed by 11 in 2002 and 1963, and nine selections in 1993. 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 Players Selected Saturday in the NFL Draft:Player Round (Pick) TeamAndre Johnson, Wide Receiver 1 (3) Houston TexansJerome McDougle, Defensive End 1 (15) PhiladelphiaWillis McGahee, Running Back 1 (23) BuffaloWilliam Joseph, Defensive Tackle 1 (25) N.Y. GiantsAndrew Williams, Defensive End 3 (89) San Francisco
Miami Is Number One In The First Round
Since 1984, Miami has produced more NFL first-round draft picks than any other college. In 2003, UM had four players (Bryant McKinnie, Jeremy Shockey, Phillip Buchanon, Edward Reed, and Mike Rumph) drafted in the first round. Miami had five first round picks in 2002, four in 2001, and three first round picks in 1987 and 1991. In 1991, UM defensive lineman Russell Maryland was the No. 1 overall pick. In 1987, UM quarterback Vinny Testaverde was the No. 1 pick in the draft. The following chart illustrates the top 10 colleges that have turned out the most first-round draft picks since 1984.
Team TotalMiami (Fla.) 36Florida 26Tennessee 24Florida State 23Ohio State 22Southern California 19Penn State 17Michigan 14Michigan State 14UCLA 14Texas A&M 14
All-Time Miami NFL 1st-Round Draft Choices(Note: The NFL started listing team selections by pick in 1967)
Player-Position Year Pick TeamJohnson, Andre-WR 2003 1 (3) Houston TexansMcDougle, Jerome-DL 2003 1 (15) PhiladelphiaMcGahee, Willis-RB 2003 1 (23) BuffaloJoseph, William-DT 2003 1 (25) N.Y. GiantsMcKinnie, Bryant-OL 2002 1 (7) MinnesotaShockey, Jeremy-TE 2002 1 (14) N.Y. GiantsBuchanon, Phillip-CB 2002 1 (17) OaklandReed, Edward-S 2002 1 (24) BaltimoreRumph, Mike-CB 2002 1 (27) San FranciscoLewis, Damione-DT 2001 1 (11) St. Louis RamsMorgan, Dan-LB 2001 1 (12) CarolinaMoss, Santana-WR 2001 1 (16) New YorkWayne, Reggie-WR 2001 1 (30) IndianapolisFranks, Daniel-TE 2000 1 (14) Green BayJames, Edgerrin-RB 1999 1 (4) IndianapolisStarks, Duane-CB 1998 1 (10) BaltimoreGreen, Yatil-WR 1997 1 (15) MiamiLang, Kenard-DE 1997 1 (17) WashingtonHolmes, Kenny-DE 1997 1 (18) TennesseeLewis, Ray-LB 1996 1 (26) BaltimoreSapp, Warren-DT 1995 1 (12) Tampa BaySearcy, Leon-OL 1992 1 (11) PittsburghWilliams, Darryl-DB 1992 1 (28) CincinnatiMaryland, Russell-DT 1991 1 (1) DallasHill, Randal-WR 1991 1 (23) MiamiKennedy, Cortez-DT 1990 1 (3) SeattleHawkins, Bill-DE 1989 1 (21) L.A. RamsGary, Cleveland-RB 1989 1 (26) L.A. RamsWalsh, Steve-QB 1989 1* DallasBlades, Bennie-DB 1988 1 (3) DetroitIrvin, Michael-WR 1988 1 (11) DallasTestaverde, Vinny-QB 1987 1 (1) Tampa BayHighsmith, Alonzo-RB 1987 1 (3) Houston OilersBrown, Jerome-DT 1987 1 (9) PhiladelphiaBrown, Eddie-WR 1985 1 (13) CincinnatiKosar, Bernie-QB 1984 1* ClevelandKelly, Jim-QB 1983 1 (14) BuffaloWilliams, Lester-DT 1982 1 (27) New EnglandAnderson, Ottis-RB 1979 1 (8) St. LouisSmith, Don-DE 1979 1 (17) AtlantaLatimer, Don-DT 1978 1 (27) DenverEdwards, Eddie-DT 1977 1 (3) CincinnatiHarrah, Dennis-OL 1975 1 (11) L.A. RamsForeman, Chuck-RB 1973 1 (12) MinnesotaOwens, Burgess-DB 1973 1 (13) N.Y. JetsTrosch, Gene-DT 1967 1 (24) Kansas CityBosseler, Don-B 1957 1 WashingtonLosch, Jack-B 1956 1 Green BayDooley, Jim-B 1952 1 Chicago*Supplemental Draft
