The 2018 NFL Draft is over and there is plenty of room for disappointment among former USF players and fans. Some in the area had touted this as potentially the biggest USF draft class in program history. The reality was quite different. The Bulls had 17 players displayed on their NFL Pro Day, but only two were drafted.
Defensive tackle, Deadrin Senat, was taken by the Atlanta Falcons in the third round and wide receiver, Marquez Valdes-Scantling, went to the Green Bay Packers in the fifth.
Four former USF players were signed as undrafted free agents shortly after the end of the draft. Quarterback, Quinton Flowers, was signed by the Cincinnati Bengals. It is not known how the Bengals see Flowers fitting into their offense, at quarterback or at another position. Cornerback, Deatrick Nichols, who had projected to go in the sixth or seventh round, signed an undrafted free agent contract with the Arizona Cardinals. Defensive end, Mike Love, signed with the Buffalo Bills and defensive tackle, Bruce Hector, was picked up by the Philadelphia Eagles.
Other Bulls will get their shot at NFL contracts by attending rookie mini-camps. Leading tackler for USF, linebacker, Auggie Sanchez, will get his shot on the big stage with the New York Giants. Devin Abraham, safety, is headed to Oakland to camp with the Raiders. Running back, D’Ernest Johnson, and punter, Jonathan Hernandez, will attend the New Orleans Saints’ camp. The Jacksonville Jaguars have invited running back, Darius Tice, to tryout with the team. Offensive lineman, Jeremi Hall, gets his shot with the Chicago Bears.
Instead of it being more broken records for the program, it ended up being a quiet year for them in the draft. The number of Bulls’ rookies will likely be higher than two, though, as Deatrick Nichols has a good shot of making a roster and D’Ernest Johnson being an afterthought is probably a big miss.