Miami Hurricanes record 6 2003 NFL Draft first round picks tied by Alabama

The Miami Hurricanes record of six first-round picks set in the 2004 NFL Draft was tied by Alabama on Thursday night. Alabama also had a first-round pick for the 13th straight season. Miami also holds that record with first-round picks in the NFL Draft from 1995-2008. Miami has had only six first-round picks since 2008.

Two of those six were in the 2021 NFL Draft. Defensive ends Jaelan Phillips and Greg Rousseau were selected 18th by the Dolphins and 30th by the Buffalo Bills. Phillips and Rousseau were the first pair of Miami teammates to be selected in the first round of the NFL draft since Phillip Dorsett and Ereck Flowers in 2015.

During the 14-year streak, seven times at least two Miami Hurricanes were selected in the first round of the NFL Draft. The 2004 NFL draft concluded a remarkable four-year run with 19 former Miami players selected in the first round. Miami went 33-3 with a 2001 National Championship and runner-up finishes flanking them.

Linebackers Jonathan Vilma and D.J. Williams had outstanding NFL careers safety Sean Taylor was on his way to the Pro Football Hall of Fame before being murdered in a home invasion, Kellen Winslow II was one of the best tight ends in the NFL offensive lineman Vernon Carey and defensive Vince Wilfork had long NFL careers.

"Miami Hurricanes 2004 NFL Draft first-round picks.Fifth-Sean Taylor, S, Washington Football TeamSixth-Kellen Winslow II, TE, Cleveland Browns12th-Jonathan Vilma, LB, New York Jets17th-D.J. Williams, LB, Denver Broncos19th Vernon Carey, OL, Miami Dolphins21st Vince Wilfork, NT, New England Patriots"

Embarking on their NFL careers, the Alabama players have a chance to make a bigger impact than the half dozen Miami Hurricanes. Four of the six Crimson Tide players are at the more glamorous positions of quarterback, wide receiver and running back. DeVonta Smith won the Heisman Trophy at WR and QB Mac Jones was a finalist.

The best of the Alabama players taken in the 2021 NFL Draft might be WR Jaylen Waddle who was taken fifth overall by the Dolphins. Najee Harris finished his career tying former Florida QB Tim Tebow for the SEC career TD record with 57 and setting the single-season record with 31 last season.

"Alabama Six 2021 NFL Draft first-round picksSixth Jaylen Waddle, WR, Miami DolphinsNinth Patrick Surtain Jr., CB, Denver Broncos10th DeVonta Smith, WR, Philadelphia Eagles15th Mac Jones, QB, New England Patriots17th Alex Leatherwood, OL, Las Vegas Raiders24th Najee Harris, RB, Pittsburgh Steelers"

Four of the six Miami Hurricanes who became first-round picks were originally from South Florida. Williams and Winslow were from California. The days of Miami routinely getting multiple first-round picks are in the distant past. Head coach Manny Diaz is trying to re-establish the State of Miami in recruiting.

Phillips, like Williams and Winslow, is from California and transferred to the Miami football program in January 2019. Rousseau is local and attended Champagnat Catholic in Hialeah before signing with Miami in 2018. Primarily recruiting South Florida is the blueprint for Miami’s success while adding a few national signees.