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DBs in draft? USF has NCAA's 2nd-most since '08
With Mistral Raymond getting picked in this past weekend's NFL Draft, USF has had five defensive backs selected in the last four drafts -- in all of college football, only USC can boast more in the last four years.
USF's five of Raymond, Nate Allen, Jerome Murphy, Mike Jenkins and Trae Williams are trumped only by USC's six drafted DBs -- the Bulls are one of seven programs that have had five DBs drafted, along with LSU, Clemson, Ohio State, Nebraska, Oklahoma and Utah.
Defensive backs have accounted for nearly half of USF's draft picks since 2008, with five of the 11 Bulls selected. It's a strong position for other Big East programs -- Cincinnati and West Virginia have had four DBs drafted, with Rutgers and Connecticut having three each. By comparison, Conference USA as a whole has had three defensive backs drafted in the same period, the MAC and Sun Belt have just six each. ... Read more
USF's Pierre-Paul, Williams reunited with Giants
Right before USF linebacker Jacquian Williams pulled off a 36.5-inch vertical leap at his campus pro day for NFL scouts in March, Giants general manager Jerry Reese saw the potential wisdom in drafting an athletic Bulls defender for the second year in a row.
"He said to me, 'I'm going to get you up there with Jason Pierre-Paul for a visit, try to get you all to play together again," said Williams, who was picked by the Giants in the sixth round of the NFL Draft on Saturday. "I told him I'd love that. I got to visit and was able to meet all the coaches, and they told me they were going to call me, so I always had them on my list."
The Giants used a first-round pick last year on Pierre-Paul, who has already played with Williams at two other stops -- they were stars together at Fort Scott Community College in Kansas in 2008, then signed together and were teammates at USF in 2009. Now, their pro careers will intersect with the Giants. ... Read more
Three Bulls drafted as Williams goes to Giants
The NFL Draft wrapped up Saturday afternoon with three Bulls being selected, with linebacker Jacquian Williams as the final Bull drafted, going in the sixth round to the Giants.
He'll join defensive end Jason Pierre-Paul, who the Giants drafted last year, and with three picks this weekend, the Bulls have had eight in the past two years, edging Pittsburgh for the most by any Big East team.
While the weekend brought good news for defensive tackle Terrell McClain (third round, Panthers), defensive back Mistral Raymond (sixth round, Vikings) and Williams, other Bulls seniors like receiver Dontavia Bogan, center Sampson Genus and defensive ends Craig Marshall and David Bedford will have to wait until the NFL's lockout is resolved before they can sign as undrafted free agents.
We'll have more on USF's draft class coming up later. ...
USF's Raymond takes next step, drafted by Vikings
USF defensive back Mistral Raymond, surrounded by at least 20 family members and friends at a cousin's house in Palmetto, got the call he'd been hoping for and saw the joy in the faces around him.
"It made me feel so good to see how excited they were," Raymond said after being drafted in the sixth round by the Minnesota Vikings. "I want to be the guy in my family that everyone looks to for positive energy."
Raymond's story continues to add new, incredible chapters -- in three years, he's gone from walk-on to special-teams player to starter to captain and now, NFL draft pick. He had visited the Vikings during the draft process, spending two days with coaches and front-office personnel, but the enormity of what has happened was still sinking in moments after his name was called.
"I know what I've gone through," Raymond said. "When it happened, I kind of flashed back to all the years, and it made it surreal. I feel great. This is a match made in heaven. It's very special for me. Words can't express this journey." ... Read more
Panthers take USF DT McClain to open third round
USF defensive tackle Terrell McClain was picked by the Carolina Panthers with the opening pick of the third round in the NFL Draft on Friday night.
McClain, known affectionately as "Dancing Bear" in his time at USF, had been projected as a second- or third-round pick, after a strong showing in postseason showcase games and at the NFL Combine. The Pensacola native drew strong interest from NFL teams, both at USF's pro day in March and in a busy schedule of personal workouts and visits since.
McClain is the third USF defensive lineman selected in the past two drafts, following Jason Pierre-Paul (Giants) and George Selvie (Rams) last season. Since the Panthers play in the NFC South, McClain will get a trip back to Raymond James Stadium every year to face the Bucs. He also got to finish his college career in the stadium he'll now call home, as the Bulls beat Clemson in the Meineke Car Care Bowl in Charlotte. ... Read more
More NFL Draft fun: Make your USF picks here
The NFL Draft starts tonight and continues through Saturday, and while it won't be quite as busy a weekend for USF football as it was a year ago, you guys seemed to have enough fun last year making your picks for where the Bulls will be drafted that I all but had to do it again. ... Read more
USF's McClain to sign autographs for charity
With the NFL Draft fast approaching, former USF defensive tackle Terrell McClain will be signing autographs to benefit a local charity Saturday at the Bucs and Bulls Heaven store on N. Florida Avenue.
McClain, projected as a second- or third-round draft pick, will be signing for fans from 1 p.m. to 3 p.m. -- all the proceeds from his $10 autograph fee will go to the Shriners Hospital for Children in Tampa, though the store is also requiring a minimum $10 purchase to get his autograph.
The store is located at 14823 N. Florida Ave., just south of Bearss Avenue. For information, call (813) 908-2827.
USF's Gilchrist talks to site about draft, future
USF forward Augustus Gilchrist hasn't made any public comments about his future since the Big East tournament, but he talked about cautiously testing the waters of the NBA Draft in a story posted Thursday at Hoopsworld.com.
There are a few nuggets of news in the story -- first, that Gilchrist is on course to graduate this summer, and that he is only likely to enter the NBA Draft if he has good reason to think he'll be a first-round draft pick. That's very much the same criteria that guard Dominique Jones had in mind when he decided to enter last year's draft, and he was selected late in the first round. Gilchrist said if he's told he'll only be a second-round pick (likely without a guaranteed contract) or that he's unlikely to be drafted, he'll withdraw his name and return to USF. ... Read more
Awaiting draft, USF's Raymond suffers personal tragedy
Former USF defensive back Mistral Raymond, who has been busy working out for NFL teams in the hopes of being drafted later this month, suffered a personal tragedy Monday when his 25-year-old sister, Myslene Gabriel, was found dead in her Bradenton apartment.
Raymond learned of his sister's death early Monday afternoon, not long after he worked out for Bucs officials with seven USF teammates at One Buc Place. A former boyfriend of Gabriel's, Bryan Stanford, has been arrested on a domestic violence charge related to Gabriel, and investigators believe he was the last person to see her alive. Gabriel had two young children and was said to be pregnant as well. ... Read more
Eight Bulls work out at One Buc Place
The NFL Draft is now only 17 days away, and Monday morning was a busy one for USF's draft hopefuls, with eight Bulls working out for the Buccaneers at One Buc Place, according to defensive back Mistral Raymond.
Raymond went through position drills with the Bucs, as did much of USF's senior class -- receiver Dontavia Bogan, defensive ends Craig Marshall and David Bedford, running back Mo Plancher, tight end Kevin Gidrey, tackle Jake Sims and center Sampson Genus. Raymond said the Bulls were part of a group of about 16 players, including other Tampa area graduates, like Miami linebacker Colin McCarthy, West Virginia receiver Jock Sanders, Central Florida receiver Jamar Newsome and former South Carolina reciever O.J. Murdock.
Raymond has had a busy past week, having worked out for the Vikings on Tuesday and Wednesday and the Bears on Thursday and Friday -- Chicago also had linebacker Jacquian Williams in town at the same time. For many of Monday's group, this was their first NFL team workout -- Gidrey flew in from Virginia for the workout and now will continue training in North Carolina for the draft.
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