The University of Texas at Austin Athletics
Three Longhorns Picked in First Two Rounds of NFL Draft
04.21.2001 | Football
AUSTIN, Texas -- Texas OT Leonard Davis and DT Casey Hampton were selected in the first round and DT Shaun Rogers was picked in the second round as the Longhorns turned in their top first two rounds performance in the NFL Draft since 1982 on Saturday.
The Longhorns two first-round draft picks marked a UT first since 1991 when DB Stanley Richard (San Diego Chargers/1st round/9th pick) and OT Stan Thomas (Chicago Bears/1st Round/22nd Pick) were tabbed in round one. Prior to that , the last time the Horns had a pair of first round picks was 1980. That year, Texas saw WR Johnny "Lam" Jones (New York Jets/1st round/2nd pick), DB Johnnie Johnson (Los Angeles Rams/1st round/17th pick) and DB Derrick Hatchett (Baltimore Colts/1st round/24th pick) all go in the first round.
The last time Texas had three players chosen in the first two rounds was 1982. DE Kenneth Sims (New England Patriots/1st round/1st pick) was the lone first round selection that year while LB Bruce Scholtz (Seattle Seahawks/2nd Round/33rd pick), OT Terry Tausch (Minnesota Vikings/2nd Round/39th pick) and TE Lawrence Sampleton (Philadelphia Eagles/2nd Round/47th pick) were chosen in the second round.
UT extended its NFL record for consecutive years with a draft choice to 64 and moved into a tie for 10th place on the all-time NFL first round draft pick list (30) in 2001 as well.
"We are really proud of the representation we had in the first day of the NFL Draft," said head coach Mack Brown. "We feel like Texas is a program that should have as many players in the draft as anybody in America each year.
"The kids picked today were recruited by John Mackovic and his staff, and they did a great job of bringing them to Texas. We're hoping that five, six, seven guys - on a regular basis - from The University of Texas football team will be drafted in the top rounds as seniors. We have had some great pros in our three years here, but we haven't had the type of impact that this senior class has made in the drafts early rounds. We want this senior class to represent the number and type of players that we're trying to send to the NFL in future years."
The 2000 draft marked the 16th straight year that Brown has had a player selected. He has coached seven players (three at UT/four at North Carolina) who have been drafted in the first round of the past four drafts. Over the last six NFL Drafts, Brown has had 12 players picked in the first two rounds. Brown's squad was one of only six nationally that had three players chosen in the first two rounds of the 2001 draft.
Davis, a consensus first-team All-American and Outland Trophy finalist in 2000, was selected with the second overall pick of the draft by the Arizona Cardinals. That marked the Horns earliest selection since DE Kenneth Sims became the third UT player to be picked first overall by the New England Patriots in 1982. Davis is the fifth Longhorn to be chosen with the first or second overall pick in the NFL Draft.
"Leonard is the most dominating offensive tackle that we've ever coached, " said Brown. "He's a guy that in only three years on offense got better each and every game. He really dominated the last year and a half of his college career, and we feel like he's a guy who could start in his first year in the NFL."
Hampton, a two-time consensus first-team All-American and the Big 12 Defensive Player of the Year in 2000, was taken with the 19th overall pick by the Pittsburgh Steelers. He became the first Longhorn defensive lineman since Sims to be selected in the first round. Hampton is the only defensive lineman in UT history that led the team in tackles in back-to-back seasons (1999-2000) and ranks second on the Longhorn all-time tackles for loss list (54).
"The Steelers are really lucky to have picked Casey because he is one of the toughest players we've ever coached and was a tremendous leader as well," said Brown. "There is no question he was the most valuable player on our team last season. He combined character, desire and quickness as well as anybody I've ever been around. Casey also has the ability to be an immediate impact player in the NFL."
The two first-round selections marked the first time since 1991 and the fifth time all-time that Texas has had at least a pair first round picks. The Horns posted a school-best three first round choices in 1980 and had two first-round selections in 1948, 1953 and 1991.
Rogers, a first team All-Big 12 choice in 1999 who was slowed by an ankle injury last season, was selected in the second round (61st pick overall) by the Detroit Lions. He finished his career ranked third on the UT all-time tackles for loss list (53).
"Shaun Rogers is as athletic as any tackle we've ever been around," said Brown. "You go back and look at the great ones we coached at North Carolina, including Vonnie Holiday, and Shaun Rogers has the pass rush ability and the mobility like those first-round picks, so Detroit has got 'em a great player for the future. In time, Shaun could be one of the dominant players to ever play that position."
TOP LONGHORN NFL DRAFT PICKS Year Rd. (Pick) Player (Team) 1982 1 (1) DE Kenneth Sims (New England Patriots) 1977 1 (1) RB Earl Campbell (Houston Oilers) 1966 1 (1) LB Tommy Nobis (Atlanta Falcons) 2001 1 (2) OT Leonard Davis (ARIZONA CARDINALS) 1980 1 (2) WR Johnny "Lam" Jones (New York Jets) 1973 1 (3) OT Jerry Sisemore (Philadelphia Eagles) 1948 1 (3) QB Bobby Layne (Chicago Bears) 1964 1 (4) OT Scott Appleton (Dallas Cowboys) 1999 1 (5) RB Ricky Williams (New Orleans Saints) 1997 1 (5) CB Bryant Westbrook (Detroit Lions) 1947 1 (5) WR Hub Bechtol (Pittsburgh Steelers)TEXAS FIRST ROUND DRAFT PICK DUOS Year Rd. (Pick) Player (Team) 2001 1 (2) Leonard Davis (ARIZONA CARDINALS) 1 (19) Casey Hampton (PITTSBURGH STEELERS) 1991 1 (9) Stanley Richard (San Diego Chargers) 1 (22) Stan Thomas (Chicago Bears) 1980 1 (2) Johnny "Lam" Jones (New York Jets) 1 (17) Johnnie Johnson (Los Angeles Rams) 1 (24) Derrick Hatchett (Baltimore Colts) 1953 1 (10) Tom Stolhanske (San Francisco 49ers) 1 (13) Harley Sewell (Detroit Lions) 1948 1 (3) Bobby Layne (Chicago Bears) 1 (10) E Max Bumgardner (Chicago Bears)
ALL-TIME FIRST-ROUND DRAFT PICKS 1. USC (59) 2. Notre Dame (56) 3. Ohio State (55) 4. Miami (37) 5. Michigan State (33) 6. Tennessee (33) 7. Alabama (32) 8. Michigan (35) 9. Florida (33) 10. TEXAS (30) Nebraska (30)
MOST PLAYERS SELECTED IN FIRST TWO ROUNDS IN 2000 1. Michigan (5) 2. Georgia (4) Miami (4) 4. TEXAS (3) Florida State (3) Wisconsin (3)