NEW YORK – Twenty-two BIG EAST players were among the 254 who heard their names called at Radio City Music Hall as the 2011 NFL Draft concluded Saturday.

The 22 selections stand as the fifth-most in BIG EAST history. The conference record of 28 draft picks was set in 2004, while the BIG EAST had 27 draftees in 2002 and 2009. Twenty-three players were taken in 2003.

Seven of the eight BIG EAST schools had at least one player chosen and six of the eight had multiple players selected over the three-day draft. Pittsburgh led the BIG EAST haul with five players chosen, including the first two from the BIG EAST to come off the board. Connecticut and West Virginia had four players each taken by NFL clubs.

Pittsburgh wide receiver Jon Baldwin was chosen in the first round and defensive end Jabaal Sheard - the 2010 BIG EAST Defensive Player of the Year - was tabbed early in the second round. 

Baldwin, who entered the draft following his junior season at Pitt, was taken 26th overall by the Kansas City Chiefs. Sheard was tabbed with the 37th overall pick by the Cleveland Browns. 

Just as it did last season, USF produced the first pick of the third round as defensive tackle Terrell McClain was claimed by the Carolina Panthers with the 65th overall selection. Bulls cornerback Jerome Murphy was chosen at the same spot in the 2010 draft. 

Louisville became the third BIG EAST team to be represented in the draft when cornerback Johnny Patrick was taken by the New Orleans Saints in the third round with the 88th pick. 

The BIG EAST had five running backs selected, including four tailbacks. Syracuse’s Delone Carter was the first running back selected from the BIG EAST ranks as he was tabbed by the Indianapolis Colts in the fourth round. The Philadelphia Eagles, who found a successful pick two years ago with a Pitt running back, went to the Panthers in the fifth round to claim Dion Lewis, who will join former Pitt standout LeSean McCoy in the Eagles backfield.

Connecticut boasted the BIG EAST’s rushing leader in 2010, but the first UConn back taken was fullback Anthony Sherman, who went to the Arizona Cardinals in the fifth round. Jordan Todman – the BIG EAST Offensive Player of the Year in 2010 – went to the San Diego Chargers in the sixth round. 

The Eagles and the Carolina Panthers both chose three BIG EAST players among their draft classes. Philadelphia added Cincinnati tackle Jason Kelce and Connecticut linebacker Greg Lloyd to its selection of Lewis, while the Panthers took West Virginia cornerback Brandon Hogan and Connecticut linebacker Lawrence Wilson to join McClain.

BIG EAST Players Chosen In 2011 NFL Draft