Tulane Football Players Ready for NFL Draft
Apr 15, 2002 | Football
April 15, 2002
NEW ORLEANS, La. - Tulane University's football program will look to send up to five seniors on to professional careers this summer. Record-holding quarterback Patrick Ramsey (Ruston, La.) leads the way for the Wave, as experts expect him to be drafted this weekend between the middle of the first round and the middle of the second round.
The first three rounds of the NFL Draft will be this Saturday and the event will complete on Sunday with the final four rounds.
Ramsey is rated by most sources as the No. 3 signal-caller in the Draft, behind Fresno State's David Carr and Oregon State's Joey Harrington. Green Wave punter Casey Roussel (Paulina, La.) is rated as high as No. 2 among punters and is expected to go in the late rounds.
If Ramsey goes in the first round, he would become the first Tulane first-rounder since 1961 when halfback Tommy Mason was taken by the Minnesota Vikings with the No. 1 overall pick. Since that time, the Wave has had a pair of second-round picks. Ramsey's predecessor at quarterback, Shaun King, was a second-rounder (50th overall) of the Tampa Bay Buccaneers in 1998, while defensive back Eric Thomas went in round two (49th overall) to the Cincinnati Bengals in 1987.
Offensive linemen Chrys Bullock (Destrehan, La.) and Torie Taulli (Harvey, La.) and wide receiver Terrell Harris (Marrero, La.) have also worked out for numerous teams. That trio will likely look to get free agent opportunities following the draft.
"These guys have all been keys to this football team over the last several years," head coach Chris Scelfo said. "I am looking forward to them getting the opportunity to play at the next level."
Last year, the Green Wave had offensive lineman Bernard Robertson taken in the fifth round by the Chicago Bears, while five other players signed free agent deals: Adrian Burnette (Dallas Cowboys), Tim Carter (New Orleans Saints), Kerwin Cook (Seattle Seahawks), Noel Ellis (San Francisco 49ers) and Jerry Phillips (New York Giants).
