Nine North Carolina Tarheels were drafted in the 2011 NFL Draft over the course of the past three days. That was the highest total for any college. The draft didn't come without its share of surprises.
The Tarheels marquis players all went in the first two rounds. Robert Quinn, Bruce Carter, Marvin Austin, and Greg Little were all drafted by late in the second round. It would have been interesting to see where they all (with the exception of Bruce Carter) would have been drafted if they had been on the field last year.
There were a few players that I was kind of surprised that were drafted. Johnny White in the 5th round to the Buffalo Bills was a little bit of a surprise but his versatility in returning kicks and playing Special Teams worked in his favor. Ryan Taylor going in the 7th round to the Green Bay Packers also was a surprise to me but his versatility on Special Teams and the fact that he had played Linebacker earlier in his career helped him as well. I had read before the draft that his stock was rising and he had interviews with several teams. T.J. Yates went in the 5th round to the Houston Texans, going ahead of big name Quarterbacks Greg McElroy of Alabama and Tyrod Taylor of Virginia Tech.
Quan Sturdivant did not go until the 6th round to the Arizona Cardinals and I believed he would go in the first couple of rounds, the 3rd round at the latest. Almost all of the draft publications that I viewed had him rated as the #1 or #2 Inside Linebacker prospect.
The three players that did not get drafted also kind of surprised me. Deunta Williams, Kendric Burney, and Zach Pianalto are all going to have to go the free agent route if they want to make it into the NFL.
Williams broke a bone in his leg in the Motor City Bowl at the end of last season may have had something to do with his not being drafted. USA Today NFL Draft 2011 had him listed as the #3 Safety coming into the draft. Pianalto also had injury problems throughout his career at North Carolina. He played about half a season every year and then he was done due to some freak injury.
I can't wait to see all of them wearing pro jerseys on Sundays and I hope those that weren't drafted get at least a look as free agents. With the current labor situation in the NFL right now, all of the players, drafted and free agent alike, will have a tougher time of it this season.
