Who as the last UNT player drafted by the NFL?

untjim1995 · April 27, 2020

I am thinking it was someone in the 90's, but I'm not sure...

GBarksdale · April 27, 2020

Cody Spencer I think? In the early 2000s.

NorthTexasSportsNetwork · April 27, 2020

27 minutes ago, GBarksdale said:

Cody Spencer I think? In the early 2000s.

2004 Cody Spencer to the Raiders in the 6th round

MeanGreenTeeth · April 27, 2020

As a point of comparison, Abilene Christian has had 5 players drafted since that time.

UNTMike81 · April 27, 2020

Cody Spencer is correct. I can't remember what round but I think he was drafted by the Oakland raiders, I believe around 2004 to 2006..

Edited April 27, 2020 by UNTMike81
Grammar, and to add comment.

TheTastyGreek · April 27, 2020

The next time @Brett Vito writes a draft article and mentions the drought, please link back to this thread.

We have three members that have been registered on this forum for a combined 46 years trying to remember the details of who, when, and what round our last draftee entered the NFL.

For the 99% of people reading Vito writings that follow North Texas even less closely than the people here do, that "UNT hasn't had a player drafted since..." is an important detail that almost nobody knows, and answers a relevant question begged by the presence of future articles on potential draftees.

Vito does, indeed, need to mention it when he writes articles about UNT and the NFL draft.

drex · April 28, 2020

A little trivia for you younger Mean Greenies. In 1969 Joe Greene was a first round draft pick. In 1970 Cedrick Hardman was a first round draft choice and in 1970 Leonard Dunlap was a first round draft choice. We have dropped off considerably since then. Greene went to Pittsburg, Hardman went to San Francisco and Dunlap went to Baltimore.

DentonTechsan · April 28, 2020

7 hours ago, TheTastyGreek said:

The next time @Brett Vito writes a draft article and mentions the drought, please link back to this thread.

We have three members that have been registered on this forum for a combined 46 years trying to remember the details of who, when, and what round our last draftee entered the NFL.

For the 99% of people reading Vito writings that follow North Texas even less closely than the people here do, that "UNT hasn't had a player drafted since..." is an important detail that almost nobody knows, and answers a relevant question begged by the presence of future articles on potential draftees.

Vito does, indeed, need to mention it when he writes articles about UNT and the NFL draft.

GMG needs to have a pinned link to the most recent media guide each season in the football and basketball forums.

Easiest way to answer any of these random questions to the board at large and the trivia game of replies that follows.

https://meangreensports.com/documents/2019/8/19/2019_Fact_and_Record_Book_with_cover.pdf

DeepGreen · April 28, 2020

Arguably the best nose tackle in UNT history, Brandon Kennedy, was not drafted and was never offered as a free agent? Is this correct? Too short, I guess. Leverage doesn't count?

Edited April 28, 2020 by DeepGreen

MeanGreenTeeth · April 28, 2020

9 minutes ago, DeepGreen said:

Arguably the best nose tackle in UNT history, Brandon Kennedy, was not drafted and was never offered as a free agent? Is this correct? Too short, I guess. Leverage doesn't count?

If I recall correctly his senior year was a slight letdown as he was pretty beat up and not in prime shape. I don't have the stats in front of me though, so I'll be happy to be corrected.

Marty · April 28, 2020

1 hour ago, DeepGreen said:

Arguably the best nose tackle in UNT history, Brandon Kennedy, was not drafted and was never offered as a free agent? Is this correct? Too short, I guess. Leverage doesn't count?

Booger went to camp with the Broncos( I think as a favor to his brother Kenoy Kennedy) & later had a short stint with the Lions.

Coach Andy Mac · April 29, 2020

List of NFL draftees.

Charlie NT 73 · April 30, 2020

The great Pittsburgh Steelers running back Eric Peagram.

Was Eric drafted?

GBarksdale · April 30, 2020

yes

Charlie NT 73 · April 30, 2020

I do not remember when Eric was drafted.

Do you know the year and who was the head coach at North Texas the year Eric was drafted?

Rudy · May 2, 2020

Yesterday, the Musers were recounting the draft. In addition to discussing the Big 12, the mentioned $mut had a player drafted, and even Old Dominion, but no NT player. But hey, any pub is good pub, right?

There is an obvious stigma or bias against NT in the pros. If nothing else, the GMs know that our players will be available to sign as free agents, so they will be cheap. This HAS to change. Hire an ambassador to the NFL. But someone needs to get in the ear of the GMs.

Salsa_Verde · May 2, 2020

An ambassador to the NFL? Wow...that would make us look incredibly b**ch made. 😐. I’m sorry there is no bias, these contracts are not going to be finalized unless they make the team so what are you talking about getting them for cheap? You can get drafted in the 5th round doesn’t mean you’re going to make the team and sign contract. 🤨

greenminer · May 2, 2020

1 hour ago, Rudy said:

There is an obvious stigma or bias against NT in the pros. If nothing else, the GMs know that our players will be available to sign as free agents, so they will be cheap. This HAS to change. Hire an ambassador to the NFL. But someone needs to get in the ear of the GMs.

We have had several players that were FA steals. None that demonstrated high performance output with the tangibles that had NFL teams drooling at the chance to draft.

We need to keep doing what we're doing. Working towards getting that first bowl win, building our brand, and striving for next-tier players that break this trend. Players that we can coach and develop into little-or-no risk NFL investments.

GrandGreen · May 2, 2020

Brandon Kennedy was one of the best college players to ever play and he was not drafted. Olawale was not drafted, but has a nice NFL career and barely played in college.

It probably would help in recruiting if NT sent more players to the pros, but on a personal level; I don't care much about anything in the pros.

Rudy · May 3, 2020

8 hours ago, Salsa_Verde said:

An ambassador to the NFL? Wow...that would make us look incredibly b**ch made. 😐. I’m sorry there is no bias, these contracts are not going to be finalized unless they make the team so what are you talking about getting them for cheap? You can get drafted in the 5th round doesn’t mean you’re going to make the team and sign contract. 🤨

I don't give a shit what you call it. But we need to have a staff member that gets our players onto the radars of scouts and GMs. Getting them for cheap means they sign for less money as a UDFA than as a draft pick.

Edited May 3, 2020 by Rudy

Salsa_Verde · May 3, 2020

Ok

greenminer · May 3, 2020

3 hours ago, Rudy said:

I don't give a shit what you call it. But we need to have a staff member that gets our players onto the radars of scouts and GMs. Getting them for cheap means they sign for less money as a UDFA than as a draft pick.

Can you imagine some unknown guy parading around the NFL, trying to smooch it up with their talent evaluators and telling them how awesome those Mean Green players are? lol Do other NCAA teams have this kind position on their payroll? Because, I'm kinda with Salsa on this: seems like we'd be begging.

IMO, only one person right now could do it and we'd keep our integrity. Mean Jo Greene. He has the respect of the league. Anyone else, and I think we come across as a salesman that won't go away, trying to sell you his vacuum cleaner when you work in an office with stained concrete.

Edited May 3, 2020 by greenminer

Cooley · May 3, 2020

DeSoto High had 2 kids to go in the first 3 rounds, in football. A Grand Prairie kid (SGP) went #3 overall.

Dallas area will have 3 kids to go in the 1st round of the upcoming NBA draft next month.

Yet we’ll be voting Tina Slinker and Derek Thompson into the UNT Hall.

UNTLifer · May 3, 2020

11 hours ago, Rudy said:

I don't give a shit what you call it. But we need to have a staff member that gets our players onto the radars of scouts and GMs. Getting them for cheap means they sign for less money as a UDFA than as a draft pick.

You don’t think our players are on the radar of GM’s?

Quote

You can get drafted in the 5th round doesn’t mean you’re going to make the team and sign contract. 🤨[/quote]

They sign a contract prior to stepping on an NFL practice field

Edited May 3, 2020 by UNTLifer

Marty · May 3, 2020

https://northtexan.unt.edu/issues/unt-and-dallas-cowboys-partnership

Since we have a partnership with the Cowboys, why don't we have an agreement that the Cowboys have to either draft or at least sign a free agent from North Texas every season?