Saturday, September 6th, 2008

Wheeler: NFL draft looms for Talib

Football players like Talib may be heading off to the NFL

The NFL draft is this weekend.

By Bryan Wheeler (Contact)

Friday, April 25th, 2008

Moments after Kansas’ 24-21 victory against Virginia Tech in the Orange Bowl, Aqib Talib, who was named the Most Valuable Player of the game, proclaimed: “I felt like Deion.”

Now, the 6-foot-2, 205-pound cornerback will get a chance to be just like Deion Sanders. Sanders, a cornerback who played for Florida State was known for his game-breaking plays on defense and special teams. Many projected Talib would be a first round pick in the NFL draft this weekend.

If Talib were drafted in the first round, it would end a 15-year drought for the Jayhawks. The last player chosen in the first round was defensive tackle Dana Stubblefield in 1993. Before Stubblefield, Kansas’ last player to be drafted in the first round was wide receiver David Verser in 1981.

Like Talib, several other Jayhawks will get a chance to live their dream of making it to the NFL this weekend. Most notable are offensive tackle Anthony Collins and wide receiver Marcus Henry. Collins was projected as high as a second round pick, while Henry was projected as a third round pick.

What does this mean for Kansas football?

Recruits. After Kansas’ 12-1 season and Orange Bowl Championship, high school stars around the country started noticing Jayhawks. According to Rivals.com’s top-250 high school prospects in the country for 2009, 17 players are interested in playing football at the University of Kansas.

Last season, Kansas had eight nationally televised games. For every Jayhawk drafted this weekend, Kansas will get even more airtime. The more exposure Kansas football receives, the greater chance recruits will become interested in the program.

In addition to this, Mangino and Co. will have more leverage enticing prospects. Currently there are six former Jayhawks active in the NFL. Archrival Missouri has 10 players in the pros, while in-state foe, Kansas State has 22 players. Should a number of Jayhawks get drafted this year, Kansas’ resume will look a lot sweeter for a kid who has been dreaming of going pro since he was five years old.

It’s quite simple. If you are a recruit coming to Kansas, all you have to do is buy into Mark Mangino’s system of hard work and selflessness, and you could get a chance to shine. After winning a BCS game and eight coach-of-the-year awards, it is clear that Mangino knows best.

Aqib Talib and Anthony Collins were two-star prospects coming out of high school, while Marcus Henry was a one-star. Of the 17 prospects of the 2009 recruiting class interested in Kansas, all are rated at four stars.

At schools such as Southern California, Notre Dame, Ohio State or Florida, it is much harder for players to compete for a starting position. Each year, these schools bring in a top-25 recruiting class. Given that Kansas has not had a top recruiting class during Mangino’s tenure, the chance to have a breakout collegiate career is much greater for these athletes.

Looking toward the weekend, Jayhawk fans can expect to see a number of players make the first step toward making a name for the University in the NFL. In turn, Mangino can hope to assemble one of the top recruiting classes for 2009.

— Edited by Nick Mangiaracina

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