South Florida Bulls Had A Historic Draft, But What Happened To George Selvie’s Draft Stock?

Posted by By Sports Session at 15 July, at 16 : 22 PM Print

The USF Bulls had another historic NFL draft this year, and for the first time they had a player taken in the top 15.  It was not the player that everyone expected to be taken that high, that player who people thought should have been there is George Selvie.  You remember George Selvie the All American defensive end from USF who burst on the scene three years ago when he returned a fumble for a touchdown against West Virginia.  The George Selvie who led the nation in sacks one season, and then got virtually no whiff of the opposing teams quarterbacks for the next two.

While Selvie was mired in two sub par seasons after his initial successful one, he was upstaged by newcomer Jason Pierre-Paul.  Pierre-Paul was rewarded for his efforts by becoming the highest drat pick in USF history.  For Jason Pierre-Paul, it was a day to rejoice. Going to the New Yorks Giants with the overall 15th pick in the draft will do that. Break out the champagne, start the celebration.  It was an incredible story, the rapid rise of Pierre-Paul from Junior College player, to USF backup at the season’s start, to full-blown top NFL prospect.

The other end of the spectrum was the rapid fall of two-time All-American George Selvie, who three years ago was the talk of the town and by Sunday, he found himself the 226th player selected in the draft, going in the seventh round to the lowly St. Louis Rams.  In between, there were three others that provided a record-setting event for the University of South Florida. Five Bulls selected. Tops among all the Big East schools.

In between Pierre-Paul and Selvie came highly-regarded Nate Allen, the safety whose stock continued to rise after the NFL Combine and the USF Pro Day. Allen, who went with the 37th overall pick to Philadelphia, went in the slot that the Eagles gained when they traded All-Pro quarterback Donovan McNabb to the Redskins.  Another surprise, a pleasant one, was cornerback Jerome Murphy.  Murphy was the 65th selection, the first guy taken in the third round by the St. Louis Rams.

Then there were the disappointments.  Carlton Mitchell, who some thought would go in the second or third round, slipped all the way to the sixth round, where he was taken by the Cleveland Browns with the 158th overall pick.

Perhaps Mitchell received some less than stellar advice when he decided to forgo his senior year to enter the draft. Players don’t often skip a promising senior season for the right to be taken late in the draft.

Then there’s Selvie.  After his sophomore year, he was the talk of USF, the Big East, and every pro scout.  Unlimited potential, destined to be a superstar, and a surefire first-round pick in the draft.  Two unproductive seasons later and an unimpressive showing at the NFL combine, Selvie found himself at 226 to the Rams.

A bad ankle his junior year and dismal production as a senior began the slide. His 40-yard times and 240-pound size made him a prospect without a position. Too light to play defensive end and too slow to play outside linebacker.  But he’ll get his chance with the Rams and that’s all he’s concerned with.  No wouldas, couldas, or shouldas, as Selvie himself put it.

College Football Front Page Features   Carlton Mitchell, Big East Football, George Selvie, Jason Pierre-Paul, Jerome Murphy, nate allen, NFL, NFL Combine, nfl draft, nfl prospect, pierre paul, sacks, south florida bulls, touchdown, university of south florida, USF, usf bulls