With just 10 days remaining until the 2015 NFL Draft, there are a lot of memories going through every one of our heads. We remember our teams picking a player we can’t understand or trading up for a guy that we didn’t think we could get. Not every player gets drafted and of those drafted, not everyone has a career worth noting.
Amongst those that go undrafted, some come out of nowhere to have a memorable career. In the case of UC, they fit the cliché: the good, the bad, and the ugly. In part one of my two part series on recent Bearcat players and the draft, we’ll be focusing on the good.
It’s hard not to put a guy like Connor Barwin on this list. After a stellar career for the Bearcats, Barwin was rewarded as the second-round pick of the Houston Texans and No. 46 overall. Between simply being a rookie and a season ending injury, Barwin’s first two seasons were anything but memorable. However, after the Texans drafted J.J. Watt, offensive lines against the Texans couldn’t focus on simply one player between Watt, Barwin, and Mario Williams, and for two years Barwin showed what kind of talent he has.
After the 2012 season, Barwin’s success was rewarded with a six-year, $36M contract with the Philadelphia Eagles. Since that time, Barwin has totaled 19.5 sacks, including a Pro Bowl appearance this past February and being voted to the All-Pro second team.
The next player is someone that most people don’t have a lot of love for. Not because he’s a bad person or a bad player, but solely because of the position he plays. I’m referring to Cincinnati Bengals punter Kevin Huber. Yes, I’m still writing about “the good” of former Bearcat football players. Why you might ask? Why wouldn’t I mention a guy who’s played in a Pro Bowl? A fifth-round pick of the Bengals in 2009, Huber has set franchise and season records for the Bengals in multiple statistics. As many have called for the eradication of the punter position, Huber has continued to excel at his craft and has represented both his college and professional teams with class and excellence, proving that the punter position still has a purpose in the game of football.
They say a game is won in the trenches and there isn’t a more important player in the trenches on the offense than the captain of the line: the center. There’s not better name in the NFL from the University of Cincinnati than Jason Kelce. After being drafted in the sixth round of the NFL draft by the Philadelphia Eagles, Kelce has transformed himself into being one of the better centers in the game, as shown by the six-year, $37.5M deal given to him following the 2013 season. In his short NFL career, Kelce has shown he’s an accomplished player with a Pro Bowl appearance in February and winning the Ed Block Courage Award for the Eagles for being a model of inspiration, sportsmanship, and courage.
Kelce may not love the idea that he now may have to face this former Bearcat since he’s chosen to sign with the Colts recently. Trent Cole, a 2005 fifth-round pick of the Eagles, has always been a dangerous threat from the defensive end position, totaling 85.5 sacks in his 10 NFL seasons. With two Pro Bowl appearances, a second-team All-Pro nomination, and an All-Rookie team selection under his belt, Cole has found himself considered a top 100 player by NFL Network twice in his career.
Some have noted that specific universities are known for the position that they tend to most successfully place players in the NFL, such as Penn State being known as Linebacker U. In the case of Cincinnati, I think it’s time to consider them as the Tight End U. Between Brent Celek and Travis Kelce, brother of Jason Kelce, the Bearcats boast two tight ends in the NFL with starting experience. In the case of Celek, a fifth-round pick of the Eagles in 2007 (doesn’t it seem like the Eagles have an affinity for Bearcat players?), he would go on to put up career numbers that finished second in the franchise record books by a tight end. Celek’s time as a starter began in the 2008 season, and he would own that title until 2014.
Kelce is something of a difference case, however. Kelce was drafted in the third round of the 2013 draft at number 63 overall by the Kansas City Chiefs. Unfortunately, his rookie campaign was cut short by a knee injury, preventing him from playing in a single game that year. However, his breakout 2014 season can’t be ignored, after posting over 850 receiving yards and six touchdowns in a lackluster Chief offense. While his career has not been one to marvel at so far, Kelce will be the starting tight end for the Chiefs next season and his numbers should improve because of it. The future is certainly bright for this young potential star.
We’ve covered the good and the next step is to cover the bad and the ugly. But that’s a story for another day…
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