Longhorns Fall Flat in the NFL Draft, Breaking 77-Year Streak
The 77-year streak is over.
As we all know by now, no Longhorns were selected in the 2014 NFL Draft, the first time this had ever happened since the second draft in 1937. Coming into this year’s draft, Texas and Notre Dame were tied for the record of having the most consecutive years with at least one selection. Now Notre Dame can claim that distinction for themselves.
There were six Longhorn players with a real chance to be selected, with DE Jackson Jeffcoat and WR Mike Davis as near-locks to be picked. Jeffcoat was seen as a third or fourth rounder by most pundits, with Davis seen as a mid- to late-round pick. Once the sixth round ended on Sunday, it became apparent that Jeffcoat had the only chance to come off the board, and it halted a 15-year streak of UT players going in the first six rounds.
Once the draft was over, six undrafted free agents were immediately snatched up, though Jeffcoat was undoubtedly courted by multiple teams, as his signing came a few hours after the draft. Here’s where the former Longhorns will be competing for jobs in camp this summer:
- DT Chris Whaley – Dallas Cowboys
- WR Mike Davis – Oakland Raiders
- G Trey Hopkins – Cincinnati Bengals
- CB Carrington Byndom – Carolina Panthers
- DE Jackson Jeffcoat – Seattle Seahawks
- OT Donald Hawkins – Philadelphia Eagles
Kicker Anthony Fera, once thought to be a long-shot seventh rounder or at least a coveted UDFA has yet to land with an NFL team. The consensus All-American and Lou Groza Award finalist surprisingly has not been offered a contract, though he will most likely be in camp trying out with a team.
Many pundits are blaming Mack Brown’s coaching as the reason for this anomaly. Even Garrett Gilbert, who transferred out of Texas to SMU in 2012 after fans took to booing the former blue-chip recruit, was selected in the sixth round, only adding to the embarrassment.
It is interesting to note that three of new Longhorns coach Charlie Strong’s recruits from Louisville—CB Calvin Pryor, LB Marcus Smith, and QB Teddy Bridgewater (17th, 26th, and 32nd overall, respectively)—were taken in the first round.
Jackson Jeffcoat image courtesy of UT Athletics
