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The Elusive Draft Stud

Andrew: The College Draft. Ask any GM throughout the history of the USAFL and they will probably tell you that the best feature to the league is the live online College Drafts.

In the beginning, we used Microsoft's Net Meeting 1.0. Man, was that a disaster. It would work for about 15 minutes then kick everyone off. We tried ICQ's chat feature once, but that wasn't any better. We settled on mIRC. Using two channels, one for holding the draft and the other to chat (mainly tease each other on who they selected).

There is no greater pressure than hearing that the two teams ahead of you both selected the players you wanted, and that you now have less than 30 seconds to make your selection. For many seasons, Tim Arkwright and I were in the same division and we both were perennial playoff teams. Almost every year, our two teams were selecting one right after the other. It was frightening how many teams I took the guy he wanted, or he took the guy I wanted. This happens so often and it really contributes to the different rivalries.

For me, I get greater satisfaction from a late round pick becoming a starter than I do with a superstar pick in the first round. Sure, it's incredible having those monster type players in the lottery, but it is a real rush when you know you've drafted a sleeper after so many teams passed over him several times.

I believe Eric Oden, the famed DL from the Oakland Raiders' early days, ranks as one of the all-time draft finds. To this day I believe I would have never drafted him as his AC and AG were both in the mid 30s. Who knew they would both explode into the 80s. When Eric Oden had that record breaking year of 60+ sacks, there was never a doubt in my mind that he was the best DL that ever set foot on a USAFL field. Sure Bing Bennett had all the prestige, but you can't overlook that monster season.

Let's see what kind of Draft Studs our esteemed panel of GMs were able to draft:

Bill: Undoubtedly, this would have to be Sergio Harmony, who I lucked into after the first overall pick became useless due to a salary cap issue with someone (Green Bay, IIRC). He never quite reached the heights that he was expected to, although that might be due to the PPP change that de-emphasized DL play. While he wasn't Bing Bennett II, he spent the majority of his career on a poor team.


Todd: I'd have to say FP Kelvin Ceciliani, selected 9th overall in the 2004 draft. I recall as early as the 3rd pick that year watching and waiting, wondering if he'd slip. I just had a feeling about him and was surprised he slipped to us - the rest is history as they say. Kelvin is the new era's career leader in sacks at 214, and will be hanging them up after this season with at least 4 Super Bowl rings and an absolutely dominant career. He had 8 post-season sacks during our 2010 Super Bowl run, and he willed us to victory in the Super Bowl against Tampa Bay in 2011, with 2 huge second half sacks and one in OT. He had 6 for us in the 2016 playoffs in which we recorded 30 sacks as a team in our 3 playoff wins...he truly is a champion.

Fred: I guess it has to be OL William Proudfoot. He has been my first ever FB Pro pick. I really didn't know what I was getting. But damn. Even when he retired, he was a top 3 OL in the league. And based on the team's performances, I guess you can't say he was a bust. Sadly, OL guys don't have much stats.

Ben: Ricardo Collins--he dogged like no one's dogged before so I shipped him out to Dallas

Tom: I guess the first real "stud" that I drafted was LB Kingsley Ballheim back in 2002. I drafted him late in the supplemental rounds (around the 9th or so player I picked) and he wasn't overly great in any area (except speed) but he didn't have any gaping holes, and when you're drafting that late, pickings can be pretty slim. He didn't end up starting for me until 2007, but he built himself into a great player, and he kept having awesome camps, even into his later years. He retired a Dolphin, I'm proud to say.

Joe: I actually think Alonzo Johnson from the Giants Era. He was my first real big name that I developed from the ground up. He had an awesome career, I just wish I would've given him a championship.

Garritt: my most notable rookie would probably be DL Eric Oden. i believe he did play for OAK his entire career and he held many records. was just simply a monster DL.

Jean: my first AMA draft was memorable. I got 4 great players that year with my
firsts for picks:

1st round: Ray Merryweather
1st round: Ernie Degrange
2nd round: Louie Kozerski
3rd round: Brandon Mickles

from this list, i only lost Degrange (lost him to FA) but from all the players i drafted, when especially proud of Finn Zilkoski

Flip: This one is easy, my very first pick ever was Lee Tardits (#13 overall) and we all know what he has done in his career. Two Super Bowl victories (four trips in all), leagues career all-purpose yards leader with 17,620, 84 touchdowns which is 3rd most in history and 10 consecutive 1,000 yard seasons which includes the years before the PPP change. I’d say that’s a pretty damn good pick!

Mike: I would have to say that was Barry Robinson. A HB that had the career highs in yardage and td's for a time. He was a horrible rookie and almost got cut. He did play his entire career in Washington. I have a horrible time trading players not only because I suck at trading but also because I get attached to players.

For even more historical data, visit the USAFL History Page to view tons of stats from earlier versions of the USAFL. This page can always be accessed through the USAFL FAQ.