List of East Carolina Pirates in the NFL draft

East Carolina University began playing organized American football in 1932 and has had many players go on to play professionally after graduating from the university.[1] The school's first-ever selection was Roger Thrift, a quarterback, who was picked by the Cleveland Browns in the 1951 NFL draft. The team's selection in the most recent draft, the 2021 NFL draft, was offensive tackle D'Ante Smith who was selected by the Cincinnati Bengals.

Chris Johnson at Tennessee Titans training camp

Every April, each National Football League (NFL) franchise seeks to add new players to its roster through a collegiate draft officially known as "the NFL Annual Player Selection Meeting" but more commonly known as the NFL Draft. Generally, the team with the worst record the previous year picks first, the next-worst team second, and so on. Teams that did not make the playoffs are ordered by their regular-season record with any remaining ties broken by strength of schedule. Playoff participants are sequenced after non-playoff teams, based on their round of elimination (wild card, division, conference, and Super Bowl). See NFL Draft Rules for further detail. Selections are made during seven different rounds.

Teams have the option of trading their picks to other teams in exchange for different picks, players, money, or a combination thereof. It is not uncommon for a team's actual draft pick to differ from their assigned draft pick, or for a team to have extra or no draft picks in any round due to these trades.[2] Of the players selected in each draft and throughout its history, East Carolina has had 63 players picked.[3]

The Pirates have had two first round selections in the NFL Draft; linebacker Robert Jones was picked #24 overall in the 1992 by the Dallas Cowboys,and running back Chris Johnson was also picked #24 overall in the 2008 NFL draft by the Tennessee Titans. The Pirates have had six players drafted by the New York Giants and five by the Dallas Cowboys and four by the Minnesota Vikings during the school's history. East Carolina most productive year was 1984, when the school had eight players selected in the draft.

Seven former Pirates: Zack Valentine (XIV), Earnest Byner (XXVI), Robert Jones (XXX), Guy Whimper (XLII), C.J. Wilson (Super Bowl XLV), Vonta Leach (Super Bowl XLVII), and John Jett (XXVII, XXX) have won Super Bowls with their respective teams.[4][5][6][7] Five Pirates also have been elected to the Pro Bowl: Tony Collins (1983), Earnest Byner, (1990) and (1991), Jeff Blake, (1995), Rod Coleman (2005) and Chris Johnson (2008), (2009) and (2010).[8][9][10][11][12][13][14][15][16][17][18]

B Back[A 1] K Kicker NT Nose tackle
C Center LB Linebacker FB Fullback
DB Defensive back P Punter HB Halfback
DE Defensive end QB Quarterback WR Wide receiver
DT Defensive tackle RB Running back G Guard
E End T Offensive tackle TE Tight end
  ^ Super Bowl champion
  * Active player
  # Active player and Super bowl champion

Player selection

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David Garrard the 108th pick overall in the 2002 draft
Draft Player name Position NFL team[19] Notes Ref
Year Round Pick Overall
1951 28 12 339 Roger Thrift QB Browns [20]
1961 5 8 64 Glenn Bass TE CardinalsNFL draft [21]
23 Glenn Bass TE ChargersAFL draft
1964 14 5 187 Tom Michel RB VikingsNFL draft [22]
19 Tom Michel RB RaidersAFL draft
1969 17 1 417 Wayne Lineberry LB Bills [23]
1973 16 1 391 Tim Dameron WR Oilers [24]
17 22 438 Les Strayhorn RB Cowboys
1974 4 2 80 Carl Summerell QB Giants [25]
4 17 95 Carlester Crumpler Sr. RB Bills
1977 6 27 166 Reggie Pinkney DB Lions [26]
1978 6 28 166 Harold Randolph LB Cowboys [27]
1979 2 28 56 ^Zack Valentine LB Steelers [28]
6 21 158 Eddie Hicks RB Giants
1980 11 11 288 Sam Harrell RB Vikings [29]
12 9 314 Mike Brewington LB Chiefs
1981 2 19 47 Tony Collins RB Patriots Pro Bowl (1983) [30]
1982 4 2 85 George Crump DE Patriots [31]
4 7 90 Tootie Robbins T Cardinals
1983 2 18 46 Jody Schulz LB Eagles [32]
1984 2 27 55 Steve Hamilton DE Redskins [33]
4 27 111 Terry Long G Steelers
5 3 115 Clint Harris DB Giants
5 13 125 Jeff Pegues LB Redskins
5 21 133 Hal Stephens DE Rams
10 1 253 Norwood Vann TE Rams
10 28 280 ^Earnest Byner RB Browns Pro Bowl (1990) (1991)
70 Greatest Redskins
11 4 284 John Robertson T Eagles
1985 3 24 80 Stefon Adams DB Raiders [34]
8 4 200 Ricky Nichols WR Colts
1986 6 27 165 Kevin Walker DB Buccaneers [35]
10 3 252 Tony Baker RB Falcons
1988 8 5 198 Anthony Simpson RB Buccaneers [36]
10 4 253 Ellis Dillahunt DB Bengals
1990 3 14 67 Walter Wilson WR Chargers [37]
5 1 110 Junior Robinson DB Patriots
7 14 179 James Singletary LB Colts
10 27 275 Anthony Thompson LB Broncos
1991 9 3 226 Ernie Logan DE Falcons [38]
1992 1 24 24 ^Robert Jones LB Cowboys Pro Bowl (1994) [39]
6 26 166 Jeff Blake QB Jets Pro Bowl (1995)
8 14 210 Luke Fisher TE Vikings
9 26 250 Chris Hall DB Cowboys
10 22 274 Dion Johnson WR Oilers
1993 6 8 148 Tom Scott T Bengals [40]
1994 6 4 165 Bernard Carter LB Buccaneers [41]
7 8 202 Carlester Crumpler TE Seahawks
1996 4 16 111 Emmanuel McDaniel DB Panthers [42]
5 2 134 Jerris McPhail RB Dolphins
1997 5 1 131 Lamont Burns G Jets [43]
1998 3 21 82 Larry Shannon WR Dolphins [44]
1999 5 20 153 Rod Coleman DE Raiders Pro Bowl (2005) [45]
6 32 231 Troy Smith WR Eagles
2002 4 10 108 David Garrard QB Jaguars Pro Bowl (2009) [46]
7 30 241 Leonard Henry RB Dolphins
2004 7 45 246 Brian Rimpf T Ravens [47]
2006 4 32 129 #Guy Whimper T Giants [29]
2007 5 9 146 *Aundrae Allison KR, WR Vikings [48]
2008 1 24 24 Chris Johnson RB Titans Pro Bowl (2008), (2009), (2010) [49]
2009 5 13 149 Davon Drew TE Ravens [16]
2010 2 14 46 #Linval Joseph DT Giants Pro Bowl (2017) [50]
7 14 221 Matt Dodge P Giants [51]
7 23 230 #C. J. Wilson DE Packers [52]
2011 6 11 176 *Dwayne Harris WR Cowboys Pro Bowl (2017) [53]
2015 4 8 107 Justin Hardy WR Falcons [54]
2017 2 5 37 Zay Jones WR Bills [55]
2021 4 34 139 D'Ante Smith OT Bengals

Notes

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  1. ^ In American and Canadian football, a back is a player who is lined up behind the linemen, the players who line up closest to the line of scrimmage.

References

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  1. ^ "East Carolina Coaching Records". College Football Data Warehouse. 2008. Archived from the original on April 21, 2008. Retrieved February 23, 2008.
  2. ^ Alder, James. "NFL Draft Basics:Determining Order of Selection". About.com. Archived from the original on January 10, 2007. Retrieved May 5, 2008.
  3. ^ "ECU's Chris Johnson selected in the first round". College. PirateIllustrated.com. April 27, 2008. Retrieved May 8, 2008.
  4. ^ Cherubini, Ron (2002). "A Peek Behind the Steel Curtain". Pirate Time Machine. Bonesville.net. Archived from the original on May 17, 2008. Retrieved May 8, 2008.
  5. ^ "Earnest Byner". Coaching Staff. Washington Redskins. 2008. Archived from the original on October 15, 2007. Retrieved May 8, 2008.
  6. ^ "Robert Jones". Hall of Fame. East Carolina Official Athletic Site. 2008. Archived from the original on December 25, 2007. Retrieved May 8, 2008.
  7. ^ Book, Sue (March 21, 2008). "Havelock to honor Giants' Guy Whimper with key to the city". Local. New Bern Sun Journal. Archived from the original on September 6, 2012. Retrieved May 8, 2008.
  8. ^ "Tony Collins". Players. Pro-Football-Reference.com. 2008. Archived from the original on May 2, 2008. Retrieved May 8, 2008.
  9. ^ "Earnest Byner". Players. Pro-Football-Reference.com. 2008. Archived from the original on March 29, 2008. Retrieved May 8, 2008.
  10. ^ "Jeff Blake". Players. Pro-Football-Reference.com. 2008. Archived from the original on April 28, 2008. Retrieved May 8, 2008.
  11. ^ "Rod Coleman". Players. Pro-Football-Reference.com. 2008. Archived from the original on April 24, 2008. Retrieved May 8, 2008.
  12. ^ "David Garrard". Jacksonville Jaguars - Players. NFL.com. 2008.
  13. ^ "Guy Whimper". New York Giants - Players. NFL.com. 2008. Archived from the original on April 27, 2008. Retrieved May 8, 2008.
  14. ^ "Aundrae Allison". Minnesota Vikings - Players. NFL.com. 2008. Archived from the original on April 10, 2008. Retrieved May 8, 2008.
  15. ^ "Chris Johnson". Tennessee Titans - Players. NFL.com. 2008. Archived from the original on May 17, 2008. Retrieved May 8, 2008.
  16. ^ a b "Davon Drew". Baltimore Ravens - Players. NFL.com. 2009. Archived from the original on April 29, 2009. Retrieved April 26, 2009.
  17. ^ "Willie Smith". San Diego Chargers - Players. NFL.com. 2013. Archived from the original on November 22, 2013. Retrieved December 24, 2013.
  18. ^ "Dominique Davis". Atlanta Falcons - Players. NFL.com. 2009. Archived from the original on December 25, 2013. Retrieved December 24, 2013.
  19. ^ This is the team that drafted the player, not their most recent team.
  20. ^ "1951 NFL Player Draft". Draft. databaseFootball.com. Archived from the original on February 3, 2007. Retrieved April 21, 2008.
  21. ^ "1961 NFL Player Draft". Draft. databaseFootball.com. Archived from the original on March 27, 2008. Retrieved April 21, 2008.
  22. ^ "1964 NFL Player Draft". Draft. databaseFootball.com. Archived from the original on March 27, 2008. Retrieved April 21, 2008.
  23. ^ "1969 NFL Player Draft". Draft. databaseFootball.com. Archived from the original on March 27, 2008. Retrieved April 21, 2008.
  24. ^ "1973 NFL Player Draft". Draft. databaseFootball.com. Archived from the original on March 27, 2008. Retrieved April 21, 2008.
  25. ^ "1974 NFL Player Draft". Draft. databaseFootball.com. Archived from the original on March 27, 2008. Retrieved April 21, 2008.
  26. ^ "1977 NFL Player Draft". Draft. databaseFootball.com. Archived from the original on March 27, 2008. Retrieved April 21, 2008.
  27. ^ "1978NFL Player Draft". Draft. databaseFootball.com. Archived from the original on March 27, 2008. Retrieved April 21, 2008.
  28. ^ "1979 NFL Player Draft". Draft. databaseFootball.com. Archived from the original on March 27, 2008. Retrieved April 21, 2008.
  29. ^ a b "2006 NFL Player Draft". Draft. databaseFootball.com. Archived from the original on March 29, 2008. Retrieved April 21, 2008.
  30. ^ "1981 NFL Player Draft". Draft. databaseFootball.com. Archived from the original on March 27, 2008. Retrieved April 21, 2008.
  31. ^ "1982 NFL Player Draft". Draft. databaseFootball.com. Archived from the original on March 27, 2008. Retrieved April 21, 2008.
  32. ^ "1983 NFL Player Draft". Draft. databaseFootball.com. Archived from the original on March 27, 2008. Retrieved April 21, 2008.
  33. ^ "1984 NFL Player Draft". Draft. databaseFootball.com. Archived from the original on March 27, 2008. Retrieved April 21, 2008.
  34. ^ "1985 NFL Player Draft". Draft. databaseFootball.com. Archived from the original on March 27, 2008. Retrieved April 21, 2008.
  35. ^ "1986 NFL Player Draft". Draft. databaseFootball.com. Archived from the original on March 27, 2008. Retrieved April 21, 2008.
  36. ^ "1988NFL Player Draft". Draft. databaseFootball.com. Archived from the original on March 27, 2008. Retrieved April 21, 2008.
  37. ^ "1990 NFL Player Draft". Draft. databaseFootball.com. Archived from the original on March 27, 2008. Retrieved April 21, 2008.
  38. ^ "1991 NFL Player Draft". Draft. databaseFootball.com. Archived from the original on March 27, 2008. Retrieved April 21, 2008.
  39. ^ "1992 NFL Player Draft". Draft. databaseFootball.com. Archived from the original on March 27, 2008. Retrieved April 21, 2008.
  40. ^ "1993 NFL Draft". pro-football-reference.com. Sports Reference LLC. Archived from the original on December 15, 2014. Retrieved November 19, 2014.
  41. ^ "1994 NFL Player Draft". Draft. databaseFootball.com. Archived from the original on March 27, 2008. Retrieved April 21, 2008.
  42. ^ "1996 NFL Player Draft". Draft. databaseFootball.com. Archived from the original on December 31, 2008. Retrieved April 21, 2008.
  43. ^ "1997 NFL Player Draft". Draft. databaseFootball.com. Archived from the original on March 27, 2008. Retrieved April 21, 2008.
  44. ^ "1998 NFL Player Draft". Draft. databaseFootball.com. Archived from the original on March 27, 2008. Retrieved April 21, 2008.
  45. ^ "1999 NFL Player Draft". Draft. databaseFootball.com. Archived from the original on March 27, 2008. Retrieved April 21, 2008.
  46. ^ "2002 NFL Player Draft". Draft. databaseFootball.com. Archived from the original on March 28, 2008. Retrieved April 21, 2008.
  47. ^ "2004 NFL Player Draft". Draft. databaseFootball.com. Archived from the original on March 28, 2008. Retrieved April 21, 2008.
  48. ^ "Aundrae Allison". NFL Draft Scout. 2008. Archived from the original on March 13, 2008. Retrieved April 23, 2008.
  49. ^ "Chris Johnson". NFL Draft Scout. 2008. Archived from the original on March 2, 2008. Retrieved May 5, 2008.
  50. ^ "Linval Joseph". ESPN. 2010. Archived from the original on April 4, 2012. Retrieved April 23, 2010.
  51. ^ "Matt Dodge". ESPN. 2010. Archived from the original on April 28, 2010. Retrieved April 24, 2010.
  52. ^ "C. J. Wilson". ESPN. 2010. Archived from the original on April 28, 2010. Retrieved April 24, 2010.
  53. ^ "Dwayne Harris". ESPN. 2011. Archived from the original on September 29, 2012. Retrieved April 30, 2011.
  54. ^ "Justin Hardy Draft Profile". NFL. 2015. Archived from the original on January 21, 2016. Retrieved September 12, 2015.
  55. ^ "Zay Jones Draft Profile". NFL. 2017. Archived from the original on July 17, 2017. Retrieved July 16, 2017.