Bulls make statement during 2010 NFL season – Archive
Written by Crow's Nest Staff, Feb 20, 2011, 0 Comments
Rob Bibelhauser
Contributing Writer
With the NFL season over, it’s time to take a look at the progress of the league’s USF alumni.
Eagles free safety Nate Allen, Rams cornerback Jerome Murphy and Giants defensive end Jason Pierre-Paul made up an exciting rookie class of former USF standouts.
Safety Nate Allen, who won the starting job in Philadelphia, posted the most impressive statistical year despite having his season cut short by injury in Week 15. The 37th overall pick in last year’s draft finished with 48 tackles, one forced fumble and three interceptions. Fanhouse.com football writer David Elfin noted in a report that the “top rookie had interceptions in each of his first two games, a sack in his third, another interception in his fourth and three hurries in his fifth.”
St. Louis Rams’ third-round pick Jerome Murphy posted a first-year campaign that showed promise but also room for improvement. Sportswriter Tim Klutsarits of the St. Louis Examiner said, “The good is that he had 30 tackles and an interception in his first season. Used mostly in nickel packages he was a target for other quarterbacks. Murphy was solid as a good run stuffer, but his pass defense will have to improve significantly if he is going to be a starting cornerback in the NFL.”
Fellow Rams rookie and former Bulls defensive end George Selvie came on strong in the second half of the season. According to Klutsarits, “The seventh-round pick had a pretty good year as he was getting used more and more as the season went along. Selvie is a pass rush specialist that managed two sacks. If he can improve his run defending then he could become a starter in the next year or two.”
Selvie finished with 21 tackles and 1.5 sacks to his credit.
Jason Pierre-Paul became the highest-drafted USF player ever in 2010 when the New York Giants selected him with the 15th overall pick. Pierre-Paul provided a notable rookie year, recording 30 tackles, two forced fumbles and 4.5 sacks. Giants fans have to be pleased with his promising performance as the loss of Michael Strahan two years ago has cost their defensive line considerable stopping power.
A former Bull who some say had a sub-par year is Dallas Cowboys cornerback Mike Jenkins. He managed 55 tackles, forced one fumble and had one interception. According to Jan Hubbard of the Fort Worth Star-Telegram, Jenkins “struggled throughout the year with key penalties.” Also, his single interception comes after his 2009 campaign when he nabbed five picks.
Overall, the young talent representing USF in the NFL is promising in the 2011 NFL season and beyond.
