NFL Draft- 1st day

Historical year continues for Mizzou
by MizzMatt 4/29/11

photo courtesy: We Are Mizzou

For the first time in the history of the University of Missouri athletic department, two former Tigers were taken in the top 10 of a professional draft.  Sophomore defensive end Aldon Smith from Raytown, MO was selected as the second-highest Tiger ever in the draft, as 7th overall to the San Francisco 49ers, where he joins fellow defensive lineman, former Tiger and the highest Mizzou alum to go in the draft- Justin Smith (to my knowledge, there is no relation).  Junior quarterback Blaine Gabbert, who many predicted would go as high as 1st to Carolina, found himself in a slide down the draft board, but still managed to get taken as 10th overall to the Jacksonville Jaguars, who traded with Washington for their pick.

"Playing in the NFL, it's a dream come true," said Gabbert, who leaves after helping lead Missouri to 40 wins over the last four seasons, including two Big 12 North Championships (2007-08) and a shared Big 12 North Championship (2010).

The first day of the draft is over, and for some, dreams have come true.  For others, such as the Arkansas Razorbacks' QB Ryan Mallett, the dream has been prolonged.  With eight of the first 32 picks in the draft coming out of the Big 12 Conference, I think it's safe to say that the Big 12 is no "cupcake" conference.

Here's the list of the first 32:

1	Carolina	Cam Newton (QB) Auburn
2	Denver	Von Miller (OLB) Texas A&M
3	Buffalo	Marcell Dareus (DT) Alabama
4	Cincinnati	A.J. Green (WR) Georgia
5	Arizona	Patrick Peterson (CB) LSU
6	Atlanta (T)	Julio Jones (WR) Alabama
7	San Francisco	Aldon Smith (DE) Missouri
8	Tennessee	Jake Locker (QB) Washington
9	Dallas	Tyron Smith (OT) USC
10	Jacksonville (T)	Blaine Gabbert (QB) Missouri
11	Houston	J.J. Watt (DE) Wisconsin
12	Minnesota	Christian Ponder (QB) Florida St
13	Detroit	Nick Fairley (DT) Auburn
14	St. Louis	Robert Quinn (DE) UNC
15	Miami	Mike Pouncey (C) Florida
16	Washington (T	Ryan Kerrigan (DE) Purdue
17	New England	Nate Solder (OT) Colorado
18	San Diego	Corey Liuget (DT) Illinois
19	NY Giants	Prince Amukamara (CB) Nebraska
20	Tampa Bay	Adrian Clayborn (DE) Iowa
21	Cleveland (T)	Phil Taylor (DT) Baylor
22	Indianapolis	Anthony Castonzo (OT) BC
23	Philadelphia	Danny Watkins (OG) Baylor
24	New Orleans	Cameron Jordan (DE) California
25	Seattle	James Carpenter (OG) Alabama
26	Kansas City (T	Jonathan Baldwin (WR) Pittsburgh
27	Baltimore	Jimmy Smith (CB) Colorado
28	New Orleans (T)	Mark Ingram (RB) Alabama
29	Chicago	Gabe Carimi (OT) Wisconsin
30	NY Jets	Muhammad Wilkerson (DE) Temple
31	Pittsburgh	Cameron Heyward (DE) Ohio St
32	Green Bay	Derek Sherrod (OT) Miss St