By Adam Wire |
The US National Team and the National Team program produced 29 NFL draftees in the six years prior to the 2018 NFL Draft.
Here’s a look at past U.S. National Team players who have been selected in the NFL Draft, and how they’ve fared in their NFL careers:
2017
Ethan Pocic, C, LSU (round 2, pick 58, Seattle Seahawks)
Pocic earned the starting center job for the Seahawks midway through last season, starting each of the last 11 games and playing in all 16.
Shaquill Griffin, CB, Central Florida (round 3, pick 90, Seattle Seahawks)
Griffin started 11 of 15 games for the Seahawks last season, tallying 59 tackles. He closed the season with a sack in a 21-12 Week 16 win at Dallas, then intercepted a pass the following week in a 26-24 loss to Arizona. He collected a season-best 10 tackles in the season opener, a 17-9 loss at Green Bay.
Jourdan Lewis, CB, Michigan (round 3, pick 92, Dallas Cowboys)
Lewis collected 54 tackles for the Cowboys last season, including an interception in Week 2 at Denver. He played in 15 games and started seven for Dallas, including the last four.
Samaje Perine, RB, Oklahoma (round 4, pick 114, Washington Redskins)
Perine played in all 16 games for the Redskins and started eight, including the last seven. He collected 603 rushing yards and a touchdown (3.4 yards per carry), along with 22 catches for 182 receiving yards and a TD.
Ben Gedeon, LB, Michigan (round 4, pick 120, Minnesota Vikings)
Gedeon played in all 16 games and started nine for the NFC North champion Vikings. He finished with 23 tackles, including a season-high six in a regular season-ending win over Chicago.
Rodney Adams, WR, South Florida (round 5, pick 170, Minnesota Vikings)
After playing in all four preseason contests, Adams was active for eight games but didn’t see any regular-season action for the Vikings, and was waived Oct. 30. He then signed a reserve/future contract with the Indianapolis Colts, but they placed him on the reserve/retired list April 9.
Ifeadi Odenigbo, DE, Northweastern (round 7, pick 220, Minnesota Vikings)
Odenigbo was waived by the Vikings after the 2017 preseason ended, but remained with the practice squad. He signed a reserve/future contract with the Vikings on Jan. 22.
2016
Corey Coleman (above) is the most recent National Team alum to be a first-round NFL Draft pick.
Corey Coleman, WR, Baylor (round 1, pick 15, Cleveland Browns)
The two-year NFL veteran has compiled 56 career catches for 718 yards and five touchdowns, including 33 receptions for 413 yards and three TDs in 10 games last season for the Browns.
Kevin Hogan, QB, Stanford (round 5, pick 162, Kansas City Chiefs)
Hogan, who was traded to the Washington Redskins April 6, played in eight games and started once in the last two seasons with the Cleveland Browns. He completed 60 of 101 passes for 621 yards and four touchdowns, and added a rushing TD last season.
Joey Hunt, C, TCU (round 6, pick 215, Seattle Seahawks)
Hunt spent most of last season on the Seahawks practice squad, but was promoted to the active roster Dec. 4. He didn’t see any game action, but remains on the Seahawks’ active roster. He played nine games in the 2016 season, including a start Nov. 27 at Tampa Bay.
DeMarcus Ayers, WR, Houston (round 7, pick 229, Pittsburgh Steelers)
Ayers is currently on the Chicago Bears active roster after not playing in 2017. He started one game and played in two for the 2016 Pittsburgh Steelers, catching six passes for 53 yards and a touchdown. The Steelers cut him in 2017, and he was on the New England Patriots practice squad briefly before joining the Bears Nov. 23.
2015
Jameis Winston (above) is the only National Team alum to be taken as the first overall pick.
Jameis Winston, QB, Florida State (round 1, pick 1, Tampa Bay Buccaneers)
In three NFL seasons, Winston has completed 939 of 1,544 passes for 11,636 yards and 69 touchdowns, and has rushed for 513 yards and eight TDs. Despite missing three games with an injury last season, he still completed 63.8 percent of his passes for 3,504 yards and 19 TDs. His career-best totals came in 2016 (4,090 passing yards, 28 TDs). He was named to the 2015 Pro Bowl as a rookie.
Todd Gurley, RB, Georgia (round 1, pick 10, St. Louis Rams)
Gurley easily had his best season in 2017, rushing for 1,305 yards and adding 788 receiving yards on 64 catches for a league-best 2,093 all-purpose yards. He had 19 total touchdowns (13 rushing, six receiving), and was named to his second Pro Bowl (2015). He was also named the NFL’s Offensive Player of the Year in 2017. His career totals include 3,296 rushing yards and 128 receptions for 1,303 yards, and 35 touchdowns (29 rushing). He led the Rams to an 11-5 record and NFC West division title in 2017.
Malcom Brown, DT, Texas (round 1, pick 32, New England Patriots)
In his first three seasons, Brown has played in two Super Bowls and won one with the Patriots. He has accumulated 84 tackles, 8.5 sacks and a safety in three seasons. Last season, he totaled 31 tackles, starting 12 games and playing in all 16 for the AFC champion Patriots.
Devin Funchess, WR, Michigan (round 2, pick 41, Carolina Panthers)
Funchess had a breakout season in 2017, catching 63 passes for 840 yards and eight touchdowns for the Panthers. In his first two seasons combined, he caught 54 passes for 844 yards and nine TDs. He caught seven passes in a game three times last season, and had a pair of two-touchdown games (Oct. 1 at New England, Nov. 13 vs. Miami). He produced a season-high 108 yards Nov. 26 against the New York Jets.
Alex Carter, CB, Stanford (round 3, pick 80, Detroit Lions)
Carter is currently listed on the Seattle Seahawks’ active roster, having signed a reserve/future contract Jan. 2. After the Lions cut him, Carter has had stints on the New England Patriots, Seahawks and Chicago Bears practice squads.
Ty Montgomery, WR, Stanford (round 3, pick 94, Green Bay Packers)
Injuries slowed Montgomery last season, as he only played in eight games, compiling 173 receiving yards, 273 rushing yards and four touchdowns. In his career, he’s totaled 82 catches for 657 yards and three TDs, along with 744 rushing yards and six scores.
Bryce Petty, QB, Baylor (round 4, pick 103, New York Jets)
Petty started three games for the Jets last season, completing 55 of 112 for 544 yards and a touchdown. In two seasons with the Jets, he’s completed 130 of 245 throws for 1,353 yards and four TDs.
Michael Bennett, DT, Ohio State (round 6, pick 180, Jacksonville Jaguars)
After a rookie season in which Bennett recorded 10 tackles and a half-sack in 13 games, injuries sidelined him each of the past two seasons. He remains on the Jags’ active roster.
2014
Stephon Tuitt, DE, Notre Dame (round 2, pick 46, Pittsburgh Steelers)
Now a four-year NFL veteran, Tuitt started all 12 games he played for the AFC North champion Steelers last season at defensive tackle, compiling three sacks, 25 tackles, two passes defended and a forced fumble. His career totals include 14.5 sacks, 97 tackles, four forced fumbles and an interception.
Jack Mewhort, OT, Ohio State (round 2, pick 59, Indianapolis Colts)
Injuries limited Mewhort to five games last season for the Colts, and 10 in 2016. He has started all 45 games he’s played for Indy in four seasons, including all 16 in 2015.
Josh Huff, WR, Oregon (round 3, pick 86, Philadelphia Eagles)
Huff didn’t play in the NFL last season, but signed a reserve/future contract with the New Orleans Saints Jan. 18. He’s compiled 51 catches for 523 yards and four touchdowns in three seasons with the Eagles and Tampa Bay Buccaneers.
Tevin Reese, WR, Baylor (round 7, pick 240, San Diego Chargers)
Reese has yet to play an NFL game. The Chargers waived him before the 2014 season, and the Cincinnati Bengals then signed him to their practice squad, where he remained until the end of the 2015 preseason.
2013
Aaron Dobson, WR, Marshall (round 2, pick 59, New England Patriots)
Dobson played three seasons with the Patriots, including their 2014 Super Bowl championship season. He totaled 53 catches for 698 yards and four touchdowns during that time. He is currently a free agent.
Tyrann Mathieu played on the 2010 U.S. National Team.
Tyrann Mathieu, FS, LSU (round 3, pick 69, Arizona Cardinals)
After five productive seasons with the Cardinals, which included a Pro Bowl appearance in 2015, Mathieu signed a one-year, $7 million contract with the Houston Texans March 19. During his time in Arizona, Mathieu collected 283 tackles, four sacks, 11 interceptions and four forced fumbles. In his 2015 Pro Bowl season, when the Cardinals won the NFC West, Mathieu tallied career highs in tackles (80) and interceptions (five), including one he returned for a touchdown.
Brian Winters, OG, Kent State (round 3, pick 72, New York Jets)
Winters just completed his fifth season with the Jets, starting all 13 games he played at guard last season. He’s been a starter in 54 of his 64 games throughout his career.
Oday Aboushi, OT, Virginia (round 5, pick 141, New York Jets)
Aboushi, now with the Seattle Seahawks, has also played with the Jets and Houston Texans. He played for the Jets in 2013-14, then joined the Texas for 2015-16, before moving to Seattle last season, where he started all eight games he played.
Jordan Poyer, CB, Oregon State (round 7, pick 218, Philadelphia Eagles)
Poyer was a key cog in helping the Buffalo Bills to their first playoff appearance since 1999 last season. He intercepted five passes, returning one for a touchdown, and collected a pair of sacks to go with 95 tackles. He played most of his career with the Cleveland Browns, before moving to Buffalo last season, with career totals of 219 tackles, seven interceptions and three sacks.
2012
David Wilson (above) was the first National Team alum to be drafted.
David Wilson, RB, Virginia Tech (round 1, pick 32, New York Giants)
The first U.S. National Team alum to be drafted, Wilson played two seasons with the Giants, during which he rushed for 504 yards on 115 carries with four touchdowns, caught six passes for 42 yards and a TD, and averaged 26.6 yards on 66 kickoff returns, including a 97-yard touchdown during his rookie season.