Ten C-USA Players Selected in NFL Draft

J.P. Losman

Conference USA had a total of 10 players selected in the 2004 NFL Draft, which concluded on Sunday afternoon in New York City. Tulane quarterback J.P. Losman was the first player chosen from a C-USA school, going to the Buffalo Bills in the first round with the 22nd overall selection. It marked the second time in three years that a Tulane quarterback was chosen in the first round, as Patrick Ramsey was a first round selection by the Washington Redskins in 2002.

Losman, who initially will serve as Drew Bledsoe’s backup, finished last season with 3,077 passing yards and 33 touchdown passes. The 33 TD passes was the second-highest single-season total in league history and it ranked seventh in I-A last season.

The fourth round saw three C-USA standouts selected. TCU DE Bo Schobel, who set a Horned Frog single-season record for sacks, was grabbed by the Tennessee Titans, as that team looks to rebuild its defensive line following the losses of starters Jevon Kearse and Robaire Smith to free agency.

Tulane RB Mewelde Moore was chosen by the Minnesota Vikings. Moore will join a talented and crowded Minnesota backfield that includes speedsters Michael Bennett and Onterrio Smith as well as versatile Moe Williams. Moore is just the second player in the history of Division I-A football to rush for more than 4,000 yards and catch passes for more than 2,000 yards, joining Darrin Nelson of Stanford. (1977-81). He is C-USA’s all-time leading rusher with 4,364 yards and he posted a league-record 6,503 career all-purpose yards.

USF’s J.R. Reed, who owns the school record for interceptions, was taken by the Philadelphia Eagles. Reed will help offset the losses of Troy Vincent and Bobby Taylor in the Eagles secondary as well as bring his return skills to a team that has made three consecutive appearances in the NFC Championship Game.

Two C-USA players went in the fifth round. Linebacker Rod Davis of Southern Miss, the 2003 Conference USA Defensive Player of the Year, was selected by Minnesota, while Rex Hadnot was taken by Miami.

The league’s final four selections were spread out over the final two rounds.

A pair of Southern Miss secondary standouts were taken in the sixth round. Cincinnati chose CB Greg Brooks, a two-time All-C-USA First team selection. Three picks later, S Etric Pruitt had his name called by the Atlanta Falcons.

Defensive tackle Eric Taylor of Memphis was taken by the Pittsburgh Steelers early in the seventh round. Three-time All-Conference USA OL Brian Rimpf rounded out the league’s selections when he was chosen by the Baltimore Ravens.

Seven different Conference USA schools had at least one player selected. Southern Miss had the most players chosen with three, while Tulane had two players taken. The 16 total selections were the second-most in league history, trailing only the 17 players chosen in the 2001 draft.

The Minnesota Vikings were the only team to choose more than one C-USA player, grabbing Moore and Davis. For the fourth year in a row, the Miami Dolphins selected at least one player from a Conference USA school.

Several additional players from Conference USA are expected to sign as free agents with NFL clubs. The rookie free agency period begins immediately following the draft.


CONFERENCE USA’S 2004 NFL DRAFTEES

Round No. (Overall) Player Pos. C-USA School NFL Team
First 22 J.P.Losman QB Tulane Buffalo Bills
Fourth 103 Bo Schobel DE TCU Tennessee Titans
Fourth 119 Mewelde Moore RB Tulane Minnesota Vikings
Fourth 129 J.R. Reed S USF Philadelphia Eagles
Fifth 155 Rod Davis LB Southern Miss Minnesota Vikings
Fifth 174 Rex Hadnot G Houston Miami Dolphins
Sixth 183 Greg Brooks CB Southern Miss Cincinnati Bengals
Sixth 186 Etric Pruitt S Southern Miss Atlanta Falcons
Seventh 212 Eric Taylor DT Memphis Pittsburgh Steelers
Seventh 246 Brian Rimpf OT East Carolina Baltimore Ravens