KU Football: Last Ten Jayhawks Selected in NFL Draft
The last time that KU football has seen one of their players go in the first round of the NFL Draft was in 2008. That guy was Aqib Talib, who the Buccaneers took with the 20th overall pick.
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Aqib Talib may have his issues off the field, but the guy has been a stud in the pros. After spending his college years at Kansas, he became a first-round pick in 2008.
Since then, Talib has bounced around from the Bucs to the New England Patriots and currently plays for the Denver Broncos. Talib has appeared in 120 games, starting 106 of those, and has 33 career interceptions.
Talib has also made it to four Pro Bowls and won a Super Bowl ring with the Broncos in the 2015 season.
It was interesting to see several years go by where a Kansas player wasn’t selected in the draft, but at the same time, it’s not surprising. Guys like Aqib Talib don’t come around often and the Jayhawks haven’t been relevant for the better part of the last decade.
A Jayhawk that didn’t hear his name called was Chris Harris Jr., who is currently Talib’s teammate in Denver. The two won a Super Bowl together in the 2015 season and became the best cornerback duo in the entire league. Harris’ success in the NFL has shown that going undrafted isn’t the end of the world.
This year, only one guy looks to be a potential draft pick for KU football. That guy is Anthony “Fish” Smithson, a three-year starting safety for Kansas.
Smithson looks to be projected as a seventh round pick or could also go undrafted, according to CBS Sports.
Hopefully KU football can start to turn it around soon and more Jayhawks can make it to the pro level.