How important is producing a 1st round pick?

[Sunil]

An interesting topic that came up when talking to a co-worker in talking about our upcoming pro-day. Just how important is it to the progress of our football program to produce a player who is selected in the first round of the NFL draft?

Obviously if you look at some of the other in-state universities and national football powers..they all have at least one guy who has gone onto draft success and become a household name. Deion (FSU), Emmitt (UF), Ray-ray (UM) are guys who most in-state recruits know by their first name alone. Even UCF constantly points to Daunte Culpepper as a signature player produced through their program. Nationally, you have smaller schools producing big-time pros such as Ladainian Tomlinson (TCU), Ben Roethlisberger (miami-ohio) and Chad Pennington-Byron Leftwich-Randy Moss (marshall).  Of course we have had some very good pros in our short history (Kawika, Anthony Henry), but no one of that caliber as of yet. Is this a vital measuring mark in the progress of our program? Does our national image have a "ceiling" until we do? Thoughts?

[flsportsfan83]

It is VERY important. We have developed some great talent here, and have won as a team. We have yet to get that Blue Chp recruit. we have pulled nice recruits. The Recruit that has everybody in the country coming after him prob. will not sign with USF. Why? These guys want to play in the pro's. We will start getting better recruits when we start putting players into the League. It is amazing what leavitt has done here with far less talent than most big time programs around the country. The big time talent will come after we put some big names in the NFL.

[Joe]

One 1st Rounder, eh. The key is producing MULTIPLE draft picks year in and out. When you are able to do that you can honestly recruit kids telling them that they have a good chance of being drafted and making an NFL roster.

[Guest]

It's the progression...

1 start a team

2 schedule opponents

3 play game one and win 80-3

4 move to I-A

5 get your first big I-A win (Pitt)

6 get into a conference

7 get into a bigger conference

8 go to a bowl game

9 win a bowl game

in the middle... have quite a few players drafted... including a 3-in-a-row-to-start-day-two...

Joe is right, though... being known for sending several players to the pros every year will help draw talent... every kid thinks he can play in the NFL - so proving that USF is a good place to showcase talent (Big East, media darlings, etc)... and gets noticed by the NFL powers that be every draft... that will bring the higher caliber players that smazza seems to think are out there if only CJL would ask them.

[JoeB]

Its important to have one eventually, but we can still win alot of games without one.  In fact we can win a Big East title without one in my opinion.

[Kyle]

I think you answered your own question. It hasn't done much for TCU, Marshall, or Miami of Ohio. (though I respect the job they do at TCU.)

[VA_Bull]

I'll agree with Kyle and I give you exhibit A - John Matuszak, University of Tampa, #1 pick.  Did a lot for them didn't it????

[E.T.]

T. Johnson could be our first #1 Round pick  8-)

I see CB's Williams & Jenkins to do well in the 2008 Draft.

[mutt]

It'll happen, it's just a matter of when. The way this season goes will say a lot for USF producing top shelf goods.