Campbell goes in second, Gooden in third…

Calais Campbell missed the first round boat but was eventually picked 50th overall – in the second round of the NFL Draft, by the Arizona Cardinals. Did the oversized Miami Hurricanes defensive lineman jump the gun regarding his early exit from The U and entry to the NFL? Sure looks like it… 

Tavares Gooden proved to be the exact opposite – snared up 71st overall by the Baltimore Ravens and early in the third round. Gooden’s stock rose after the combine and the under the radar Miami linebacker overachived his way into an early Sunday morning pick. Gooden also returned for his senior season to up his game, as opposed to bailing early and testing the NFL waters. 

Kenny Phillips was the last pick of the first round, extending Miami’s first round streak to fourteen straight seasons… but the luster of that has worn off as the Canes’ Draft impact has fizzled.

Even coming off of 7-6 in 2006, Miami still pumped out three first rounders last year and a total of five Canes drafted. Disappointing after the run Miami saw earlier in this decade – 2006 (9), 2005 (5), 2004 (9), 2003 (8), 2002 (11), 2001 (7) and 2000 (5) – but still All-World compared to what The U saw in 2008.

Miami bottomed out on the field in 2007 and is gearing up to bottom out in the NFL Draft in 2008 and possibly 2009. “The Streak” should come to an end next season, barring some stellar play from NFL bound upperclassmen.

While Cane fans never want to see the day a kid from The U doesn’t make his way into the first round, this program is in serious need of a wake up call. Playing for Miami is about winning national championships and being a top five team year in and year out. It’s a stepping stone to the NFL for a slew of kids – but that needs to be secondary to getting one’s degree and keeping this program amongst the elite.

Winning ways are going to attract front runners and some selfish “me first” players, as we’ve seen here and there since Miami’s last championship in 2001. The trend really started with the 2004 recruiting class and seemed to be the case over the next few seasons.

The lone upside to 5-7? Knowing that the several dozen kids who signed on last February to make up this top-ranked recruiting class are signing on to rebuild. No one is riding any gravy train at Miami anytime soon. It’s time to roll up one’s sleeves and put this program back on the map first and foremost. 

As all this Draft news has settled and sunk in, Miami is very lucky Phillips kept the streak alive. KP snuck into the first round based on the program’s legacy, the type of players Miami puts into the league and based on his potential versus his resume. The New York Giants like Miami Hurricanes. Sinorice Moss was their choice last year, William Joseph a few years back and Jeremy Shockey has been running game in the Big Apple since 2002.

Phillips made the ‘right choice’ if you measure his decision by being nabbed in the first round, but safe to say another year at Miami could’ve made this kid mid-first round material in 2009.

As for Campbell, the 6’8″ lineman was somewhat exposed during the 2007 season and in the combine. Of the two highly-touted Canes in this year’s Draft, Campbell absolutely should’ve stuck around for his senior year. #81 could’ve tightened up his game, mentored younger players (little bro Jason Campbell will battle for a safety positon) and worked on his technique.

I don’t know Campbell’s history. I don’t know if his family needed the money or what his motivating factor was to bail with one year of eligibility remaining. To his credit, Campbell did earn his degree and returning to The U would’ve strictly been a football decision – but one has to believe another season would’ve helped CC climb up from that 50th spot at which he was chosen yesterday.

Randy Shannon wants to change the culture at Miami and has oft stated a big part of that is getting upperclassmen to return. A tough sell after 5-7 and no shot at being in the hunt in 2008. When Shannon turns the program around and gets the Canes back to winning ways, maybe guys like Campbell and Phillips stick around. It’s sort of a ‘chicken or the egg’ type situation. What comes first, seniors staying or winning ways returning?

Congrats to Phillips, Campbell and Gooden. Very frustrating to see so few Canes drafted, but that can’t take away from those who were. This is just another part of the Miami down-cycle the program has experienced the past few seasons and that tide will turn soon enough.

Tune in over the next few days to see which Canes get picked up as free agents. One has to believe quarterback Kyle Wright and flanker Darnell Jenkins are going to get some looks.

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