Miami Extends Streak with 14th Consecutive First-Round Draft Choice

April 26, 2008

CORAL GABLES, Fla. – The University of Miami extended its school record streak to 14 consecutive years in which a Hurricanes player was chosen in the first round of the NFL draft when junior safety Kenny Phillips was selected by the New York Giants Saturday.

“We’re very excited for Kenny (Phillips) and his family,” UM head coach Randy Shannon said. “Kenny is a fine football player and we know he will have a great career in the NFL. We wish him the best.”

Phillips was selected with the 31st choice by the Giants.

Miami’s streak of 14 straight years with a first-round draft choice is unprecedented in football history. The previous longest streak was nine straight years by the University of Florida (1983-91). The University of Miami’s string began in 1995 when Warren Sapp was drafted in the first round. In the last 14 years, UM has had 33 players drafted in the first round of the NFL draft.

“This streak continues to be a great honor for the University of Miami especially since we set the bar high,” Shannon said. “We’ve had good players come through the university. To have players drafted in the first round says a lot for our program. We pride ourselves on being the best we can be on and off the field, and this is another example of that.”

Since 1982, Miami has had 50 players drafted in the first round of the NFL draft. Prior to 1982, only 11 UM players had ever been selected in the first round.

Here are the Miami first-round draft selections all-time:

Kenny Phillips-FS200831 N.Y. GiantsBrandon Meriweather-FS200724New England Jon Beason-LB 200725 CarolinaGreg Olsen-TE200731 ChicagoJennings, Kelly-CB200631 SeattleRolle, Antrel-CB 20058 ArizonaTaylor, Sean-FS 20045 WashingtonWinslow, Kellen-TE20046 ClevelandVilma, Jonathan 200412 N.Y. JetsWilliams, D.J.-LB200417 DenverCarey, Vernon-OL 200419 MiamiWilfork, Vince-DT200421 New EnglandJohnson, Andre-WR20033 Houston TexansMcDougle, Jerome-DL200315 PhiladelphiaMcGahee, Willis-RB200323 BuffaloJoseph, William-DT 200325 N.Y. GiantsMcKinnie, Bryant-OL20027 MinnesotaShockey, Jeremy-TE200214 N.Y. GiantsBuchanon, Phillip-CB 200217 OaklandReed, Edward-S200224 BaltimoreRumph, Mike-CB200227 San FranciscoMorgan, Dan-LB200111 CarolinaLewis, Damione-DT200112 St. Louis RamsMoss, Santana-WR 200116 New YorkWayne, Reggie-WR 200130 IndianapolisFranks, Bubba-TE 200014 Green BayJames, Edgerrin-RB19994 IndianapolisStarks, Duane-CB 199810 BaltimoreGreen, Yatil-WR 199715 MiamiLang, Kenard-DE199717 WashingtonHolmes, Kenny-DE199718 TennesseeLewis, Ray-LB 199626 BaltimoreSapp, Warren-DT 199512 Tampa BaySearcy, Leon-OL199211 PittsburghWilliams, Darryl-DB 199228 CincinnatiMaryland, Russell-DT 19911 DallasHill, Randal-WR 199123 MiamiKennedy, Cortez-DT19903 SeattleHawkins, Bill-DE198921 L.A. RamsGary, Cleveland-RB 198926 L.A. RamsWalsh, Steve-QB19891* DallasBlades, Bennie-DB19883 DetroitIrvin, Michael-WR198811 DallasTestaverde, Vinny-QB 19871 Tampa BayHighsmith, Alonzo-RB 19873 HoustonBrown, Jerome-DT19879 PhiladelphiaBrown, Eddie-WR 198513 CincinnatiKosar, Bernie-QB 19841* ClevelandKelly, Jim-QB198314 BuffaloWilliams, Lester-DT 198227 New EnglandAnderson, Ottis-RB19798 St. LouisSmith, Don-DE197917 AtlantaLatimer, Don-DT197827 DenverEdwards, Eddie-DT 19773 CincinnatiHarrah, Dennis-OL 197511 L.A. RamsForeman, Chuck-RB197312 MinnesotaOwens, Burgess-DB197313 N.Y. JetsTrosch, Gene-DT196724 Kansas CityBosseler, Don-B19571 WashingtonLosch, Jack-B 19561 Green BayDooley, Jim-B 19521 Chicago