2011 NFL Draft: The History Of Syracuse Players In The Draft

With the 2011 NFL Draft coming up tomorrow, we may see a couple Orange get their names called, we may see more. While Syracuse hasn't been one of schools to get talked about a lot on draft day in recent years, the Orange still have a strong history in it.

Here's some notable notables that will be handy when you're watching the draft with your friends tomorrow and want to sound like you know what you're talking about. (Ed. - You don't know what you're talking about.).

Also, you'll start to notice a weird thing going on between SU and the Washington Redskins...

Since the draft began in 1936, only one Syracuse player has ever been selected with the No. 1 overall pick. You guessed it, Ernie Davis. Though if you want to stump someone (who hasn't seen The Express), ask them what team drafted him. It wasn't the Browns, it was the Redskins.

Syracuse has had two players drafted No. 2 overall, though there's a little asterisk there.

Walt Sweeney was picked in 1963 by the San Diego Chargers in the AFL Draft (he was selected all the way back in the 8th Round by the Redskins in the NFL version). He played for eleven seasons and was named an AFL All-Star or Pro Bowler in nine of them. So, he was aight.

The other guys? Donovan McNabb, picked No. 2 by the Philadelphia Eagles in 1999. You know what happened from there (Did I mention he spent last season with the Redskins?).

Many Orangemen played in the NFL beforehand but the first Syracuse player ever drafted was Paul McKee, a TE picked in the 10th round by the Washington Redskins. He played for two seasons.

Avatus Stone, whom we learned something about this week, was drafted in the 9th round by the Chicago Cardinals in 1953. He never played for them, he went to the CFL instead.

17 Syracuse players have been taken in the first round, including Jim Brown (Browns), Roger Davis (Bears), Ernie Davis (Redskins), Floyd Little (Broncos), Larry Csonka (Dolphins), Art Thoms (Raiders), Joe Ehrmann (Colts), Art Monk (Redskins), Tim Green (Falcons), Ted Gregory (Broncos), Marvin Harrison (Colts), Donovin Darius (Jaguars), Tebucky Jones (Patriots), Donovan McNabb (Eagles), Keith Bullock (Titans), Will Allen (Giants) and Dwight Freeney (Colts).

1988 was the most amount of Syracuse players taken in one NFL Draft, six.

1998 was the only time multiple Syracuse players were taken in the first round, two.

2008 was the first year no Syracuse players were drafted since 1975. The last time before that was 1964.

The latest a Syracuse player has ever been taken in the NFL Draft? The 26th Round. Gene Grabosky was drafted in 1959 by, who else, the Washington Redskins. He never played for them but did play one season for the Buffalo Bills in 1960.