NFL Draft Is Bullish on USF Football Talent

University of South Florida football fans didn't have much time to get to know Jason Pierre-Paul.

Come Thursday night, some NFL team will make him a first-round draft pick, perhaps the highest selection for any player in USF's short history.

Pierre-Paul is the one-year wonder who has but a single season of Division 1 college football on his resume. Still, his physical tools have drawn the attention of numerous pro scouts.

He's 6'4", 270 pounds, cat-quick with long arms.

He's a prototype, but still so very raw. Whoever drafts him will take him on potential, and that's a testy game.

Pierre-Paul is expected to go higher than the 25th selection and that's where Mike Jenkins went in the 2008 draft. Now he's a starter for the Dallas Cowboys.

Pierre-Paul is not the only USF product who will be selected.

Safety Nate Allen is moving up the board for some teams. He's a proven talent in the secondary and might be gone by the second round. Some even have him sneaking late into the first round.

Wide receiver Carlton Mitchell saw his stock improve at the NFL combine then again at USF's pro day when he ran a 4.4 second 40. Mitchell has great size at 6'2", 215 pounds but the consistency of his hands is a question mark.

He's projected as a second-round pick.

George Selvie is a player who has dropped considerably since his sensational sophomore year. He was being touted as a first-rounder but after non-productive seasons as a junior then again his senior year, he's most likely going to end up in the middle rounds come Thursday-Friday.

Cornerback Jerome Murphy will get the call sometime in the third round or after. He's a larger corner and that's where teams are trending these days.

Finally, linebacker Kion Wilson will get a shot. Wilson was a very productive player at middle linebacker with a good amount of film to support his talent.

By Friday, all six should land somewhere and it will bring good recognition for the University of South Florida, and hopefully some solid donations from the guys who sign big contracts.