April 23, 2002

Columbia, SC –

The Southeastern Conference had a national-best 47 players taken in the 2002 National Football League draft last weekend. Eleven of the 12 SEC teams had at least one player selected in the draft.

The South Carolina Gamecocks, with five players chosen, tied for fourth in the SEC for most players selected. Tennessee led the way with 10, followed by Florida (8) and Georgia (8). LSU also had five athletes drafted. Alabama was next with four, followed by Auburn with three. Arkansas, Kentucky, Ole Miss and Mississippi State each had one player chosen. The SEC had six first round picks, second to only the Big East with eight.

Behind the SEC’s 47 draftees, the Big Ten Conference was next with 35, followed by the Pac-10 with 32. The Big 12 had 25 players drafted, the Big East had 27 and the Atlantic Coast Conference had 18 players selected.

South Carolina’s NFL draft picks include: LB/DE Kalimba Edwards (Detroit Lions, 2nd round), DB Sheldon Brown (Philadelphia Eagles, 2nd round), DB Andre Goodman (Detroit Lions, 3rd round), DB Willie Offord (Minnesota Vikings, 3rd round), and DE John Stamper (Tampa Bay Bucs, 6th round).