Nfl Teams Make Major Statement With Draft Picks

Tampa’s newly discovered philosophy was apparent in the NFL draft. Of the top 60 players chosen - the first two rounds - all but two were from the highest levels of Division I-A.

Nine of the first eighteen players taken were from Florida State (4), Miami (3) and Florida (2); Nos. 1 and 3 overall were from Ohio State.

Not until the 52nd pick, when Buffalo took Columbia’s Marcellus Wiley, was a non-major school represented. The second was the last pick of the second round, William & Mary defensive back Darren Sharper, by Green Bay.

Sharper might have completed a rare double - brothers drafted 1-2 by the same team. When the Packers chose last in the first round, they considered his brother, Virginia linebacker Jamie Sharper. Instead, Green Bay took Iowa tackle Ross Verba and Jamie Sharper went to Baltimore four picks later.