B1G Recap: 2015 NFL Draft

Written By T.J. Inman (@TJHoosierHuddle)

2015 NFL Draft – B1G Recap

First B1G Player Picked
-Brandon Scherff, OG from Iowa, drafted #5 by the Washington Redskins

B1G Players Chosen in the First Round
-Brandon Scherff (#5 to Washington, the B1G’s first Top 10 pick since 2008!)
-Trae Waynes, CB from Michigan State, drafted #11 by the Minnesota Vikings
-Melvin Gordon, RB from Wisconsin, drafted #15 by the Wisconsin Badgers

Number of Draft Picks for Each B1G Schools
A total of 35 B1G players were selected over the course of seven rounds during the NFL Draft in Chicago. 
-Illinois: 0
-IU: 1 (Tevin Coleman)
-Iowa: 3 (Brandon Scherff, Carl Davis, Andrew Donnal)
-Maryland: 2 (Stefon Diggs, Darius Kilgo)
-Michigan: 3 (Devin Funchess, Frank Clark, Jake Ryan)
-Michigan State: 4 (Trae Waynes, Jeremy Langford, Tony Lippett, Keith Mumphrey)
-Minnesota: 4 (Maxx Williams, Damien Wilson, David Cobb, Cedric Thompson)
-Nebraska: 3 (Ameer Abdullah, Randy Gregory, Kenny Bell)
-Northwestern: 2 (Ibraheim Campbell, Trevor Siemian)
-Ohio State: 5 (Devin Smith, Jeff Heuerman, Doran Grant, Michael Bennett, Evan Spencer)
-Penn State: 3 (Donovan Smith, Adrian Amos, Jesse James)
-Purdue: 1 (Ryan Russell)
-Rutgers: 2 (Tyler Kroft, Michael Burton)
-Wisconsin: 2 (Melvin Gordon, Rob Havenstein)

For comparisons sake, Florida State led the way with 11 draft picks (Louisville was a very surprising runner-up with 10 players selected) and the SEC was the top conference with 54 players being selected (the ACC had 47, the PAC-12 had 39 and the B1G was in 4th).

Notable B1G Players 
-Melvin Gordon (RB, Wisconsin): The San Diego Chargers traded up to #15 to select the ex-Badgers workhorse running back. 
-Donovan Smith (OT, Penn State): Smith will be blocking for the #1 pick in the 2015 NFL Draft (Jameis Winston) as a member of the Tampa Bay Buccaneers. The Bucs took Smith with the 34th pick (#2 in the 2nd Round).
-Devin Smith (WR, Ohio State): The main deep threat from the Buckeyes title winning team was taken by the New York Jets with the 37th pick (5th pick in Round 2).
-Devin Funchess (WR, Michigan): The Carolina Panthers traded up to take Funchess with the 41st pick (pick #9 in Round 2). The 6’4” target will provide another big target for Cam Newton.
-Ameer Abdullah (RB, Nebraska): It was a bit of a surprise to see Abdullah come off the board before Tevin Coleman but the former Cornhusker was taken by the Detroit Lions with the 54th pick (pick #22 of Round 2).
-Maxx Williams (TE, Minnesota): Williams left Minnesota with two years of eligibility remaining and will now be playing in Baltimore. The Ravens chose Williams (the first TE chosen) with the 55th pick (#23 in Round 2).
-Randy Gregory (OLB, Nebraska): Off-field concerns (failed drug tests and rumors of potential psychological issues) caused Gregory’s draft stock to plummet. Eventually, Gregory was taken by the Dallas Cowboys (who made it clear by signing Greg Hardy that they need pass rushers and don’t care one iota about “character”) with the 60th pick (#28 pick in Round 2). 
-Jeremy Langford (RB, Michigan State): The Chicago Bears have longed for a quality #2 RB to help lighten the load placed on Matt Forte. With the 106th pick (7th pick in Round 4), they turned to Jeremy Langford to fill that role.
-David Cobb (RB, Minnesota): The bruising former Gopher was taken by the Tennessee Titans with the 138th pick (2nd pick of the 5th Round). Cobb will have a shot to see the field next to new QB Marcus Mariota because the Titans don’t have a particularly strong running back corps.
-Stefon Diggs (WR, Maryland): Coming into college, Diggs was expected to star in College Park and eventually make his way to the NFL as a surefire 1st Round pick. Things didn’t quite work out as planned but Diggs was very good as a Terp and he will have a chance to succeed in the NFL. The Vikings took him at pick #146 (10th pick of Round 5).
-Trevor Siemian (QB, Northwestern): The former Wildcats signal-caller was taken by the Denver Broncos with the 250th pick (pick #33 in Round 7).