SEC Sends 5 to NFL in Top 10 Picks

The SEC was very well represented in Thursday night’s NFL Draft. Five of the top ten picks were players from the SEC.

Trent Richardson of the Alabama Crimson Tide went to the Cleveland Browns on the third overall pick. The Browns traded up with the Vikings to take Richardson. The running back had 1.679 yards rushing with the 2011 National Champions, with 21 touchdowns. He also had 29 catches for 338 yards and 3 scores. Over his 3 years in college ball he totalled 3.130 rushing yard and 35 touchdowns while catching 68 balls for 730 yards and 7 touchdowns.

Morris Claiborne of the LSU Tigers went 6th overall to the Dallas Cowboys, who traded up with the Rams. The defensive back had 51 tackles and 6 interceptions for the Tigers in 2011. In his 3 years with LSU he totalled 95 tackles with 11 interceptions. He also broke up 23 passes.

Mark Barron of Alabama went to the Tampa Bay Buccaneers who traded down with the Jaguars. With the 2011 National Champion Crimson Tide Barron had 68 tackles, a sack and two interceptions. In his four years at Alabama he collected 235 tackles, 13 for a loss, 5 sacks and had 12 interceptions.

Ryan Tannehill of the Texas A&M Aggies went 8th overall to the Miami Dolphins. In 2011, Tannehill passed for 3,744 yards with 29 touchdowns and 15 interceptions. He also rushed for 306 yards and 4 TD’s. Over his 4 years with the Aggies he threw for 5,450 yards with 42 touchdowns and 21 interceptions.

Stephon Gilmore of the South Carolina Gamecocks was chosen 10th overall by the Buffalo Bills. The defensive back had 46 tackles in 2011, 3 for a loss and a sack. He added 3 interceptions. In three years with the Gamecocks he had totals of 181 tackles, 15 for a loss along with 7 sacks. He also had 7 career picks.

Ray Blanchette covers the SEC for the Saturday Blitz. He also writes for Outside The Redzone. Follow along at www.outsidetheredzone.com. Blanchette is the owner of Blanchette Sports Holdings. Follow along with them at www.blanchettesh.elementfx.com or on Facebook at http://www.facebook.com/#!/profile.php?id=100003521034703&sk=wall or on Twitter at https://twitter.com/#!/BlanchettSports