Hurricanes NFL Draft streak in doubt

For 13 years, the University of Miami has had at least one player drafted in the first round. To put that in perspective, the last time a Hurricanes' player wasn't taken in the first round — in 1994 — gas was $1.03 per gallon.

Depending on who you talk to, Miami's streak of first-round picks will continue with safety Kenny Phillips and perhaps defensive end Calais Campbell — or it'll end.

Two months ago, Phillips and Campbell were first-round locks. Now they're not, according to various mock drafts.

Phillips is projected to go as high as 19th in the draft by The Sports Xchange and CBS Sportsline's Clark Judge.

The Sports Xchange also has Campbell being taken 21st, but ESPN's Mel Kiper and Sports Illustrated's Peter King have neither player going in the first round.

"I originally had Kenny Phillips and Calais Campbell in," Kiper said. "The Arkansas State state kid (Tyrell Johnson) has moved up and Phillips is not coming off a great year.

"Calais has a better chance to be picked late in the first round. ... Like Kenny Phillips, it was not his best year."

Gary Wichard, Campbell's agent, laughs at all the conjecture.

"I've won too many bets with Mel Kiper," he said. "None of those guys have a pick on Saturday, which is a good thing.

"There's no way Calais won't be picked in the first round. He's a 6-foot-7, 280-pound freak. I don't care if he was down a little bit. He's a great kid, he'll graduate and he's nothing but hard work and a good attitude. And how many guys in the draft can do what he can do? He'll be fine."
Phillips, who's represented by Drew and Jason Rosenhaus, said they've told him to ignore all the talk but that it's hard.

"It's in the paper, on TV, shows you like to watch," Phillips said. "They're always saying something and it's a negative. It's someone's opinion, not a general manager or coach. People saying that have nothing to do with the draft. They get paid to do it, which I understand. But there's nothing I can do about it."

It's tougher for family members, Phillips said.

"No one likes to hear talk about their son or children," he said. "It's those people's opinions, but it's not things a mother who loves her son likes to hear."

Phillips remains confident he'll be chosen in the first round.

"You never know what will happen," he said. "If I fall into the second round, that's fine; people are dying to go in the second round. But you pray to go in the first round or as high as possible."

While Kiper isn't high on Campbell's or Phillips' first-round chances, he continues to move Tavares Gooden up. He ranked Gooden No. 2 among outside linebackers.

"He had a heckuva a year," Kiper said. "He put it together at the right time."

The 6-foot-1, 234-pound Gooden, who played all three linebacker positions, had 100 tackles (three for losses), three fumble recoveries, three pass breakups and an interception this past season. He has nearly a 40-inch vertical jump and ran a 4.65 time in the 40-yard dash.

"I don't think the real me has come out yet," Gooden said. "I played so many different positions. ... When I worked at something for a couple of years, I get the feel for it and get better at it. I can't wait to show skills at the next level."

Quarterback Kyle Wright, wide receivers Lance Leggett and Darnell Jenkins, offensive linemen Derrick Morse of Estero High, John Rochford and Andrew Bain and defensive lineman Vegas Franklin look like free agents.

Wright never matched his high school hype and was slowed by a series of offensive coordinators.

"I'm very anxious for a new start, to start a new chapter and not look back," Wright said. "Here's what a lot of teams stress. It's hard to get any continuity in the offseason. I never had the same coordinator twice in the summer. I'm definitely looking forward to get in a system team-wise and having people around me work on things I really didn't get here."

(news-press.com)