NEW YORK - Three BIG EAST Conference players were chosen in the first round of the NFL Draft for the second consecutive year, with Rutgers offensive tackle Anthony Davis and USF defensive end Jason Pierre-Paul becoming the highest draft picks in their respective schools' histories.
Seventeen BIG EAST players were chosen over the course of the three-day, seven-round draft. The conference had five players taken in the first two days of the draft (Rounds 1-3) and 12 selected on Saturday's final day (Rounds 4-7).
Davis went to the San Francisco 49ers with the No. 11 overall selection while Pierre-Paul went to the New York Giants at No. 15. Rutgers cornerback Devin McCourty also went in the first round, chosen by the New England Patriots with the No. 27 pick.
USF safety Nate Allen was the only BIG EAST player taken in the second round as he went to the Philadelphia Eagles with the 37th overall pick. The Bulls also had the only BIG EAST pick of the third round in cornerback Jerome Murphy, who went to the St. Louis Rams with the 65th pick.
St. Louis stayed in the BIG EAST for its fourth-round selection as the Rams chose Cincinnati wide receiver Mardy Gilyard, the two-time BIG EAST Special Teams Player of the Year.
Connecticut wideout Marcus Easley went to the Buffalo Bills with the 107th overall pick. Syracuse defensive tackle Arthur Jones was the lone BIG EAST selection in the fifth round as he went to the Baltimore Ravens.
The sixth round had three BIG EAST selections in USF wide receiver Carlton Mitchell (Cleveland), Pittsburgh tight end Nate Byham (San Francisco) and Cincinnati quarterback Tony Pike (Carolina).
All-America defensive end George Selvie became the fifth USF player taken when he was tabbed by the Rams early in the seventh round. Pittsburgh's Dorin Dickerson became the second Panther tight end taken when he went to the Houston Texans just one pick after Selvie was chosen. West Virginia got on the draft board when offensive tackle Selvish Capers was selected by Washington.
Rutgers linebacker Ryan D'Imperio and Cincinnati defensive end Ricardo Mathews went to Minnesota and Indianapolis, respectively, on consecutive seventh-round selections. Connecticut cornerback Robert McClain capped the BIG EAST's draft selections when he went to Carolina at pick No. 249.
BIG EAST Players Chosen In 2010 NFL Draft
| Name |
Pos. |
Round |
Selection |
NFL Team |
| Anthony Davis, Rutgers |
OT |
1 |
11 |
San Francisco |
| Jason Pierre-Paul, USF |
DE |
1 |
15 |
New York Giants |
| Devin McCourty, Rutgers |
CB |
1 |
27 |
New England |
| Nate Allen, USF |
S |
2 |
37 |
Philadelphia |
| Jerome Murphy, USF |
CB |
3 |
65 |
St. Louis |
| Mardy Gilyard, Cincinnati |
WR |
4 |
99 |
St. Louis |
| Mike Williams, Syracuse |
WR |
4 |
101 |
Tampa Bay |
| Marcus Easley, Connecticut |
WR |
4 |
107 |
Buffalo |
| Arthur Jones, Syracuse |
DT |
5 |
157 |
Baltimore |
| Carlton Mitchell, USF |
WR |
6 |
177 |
Cleveland |
| Nate Byham, Pittsburgh |
TE |
6 |
182 |
San Francisco |
| Tony Pike, Cincinnati |
QB |
6 |
204 |
Carolina |
| George Selvie, USF |
DE |
7 |
226 |
St. Louis |
| Dorin Dickerson, Pittsburgh |
TE |
7 |
227 |
Houston |
| Selvish Capers, West Virginia |
OT |
7 |
231 |
Washington |
| Ryan D'Imperio, Rutgers |
LB |
7 |
237 |
Minnesota |
| Ricardo Mathews, Cincinnati |
DE |
7 |
238 |
Indianapolis |
| Robert McClain, Connecticut |
DB |
7 |
249 |
Carolina |
