2013 NFL Draft Local Ties

    The 2013 NFL Draft began in New York City this week and several former South Florida high school football players were picked in the first five rounds. It was an unusual beginning to the draft as there were no running backs selected in the first round. Teams stayed away from players in the skill positions and concentrated on offensive lineman and defensive front-seven personnel.
    The only local product that was selected in the first round was Matt Elam as he was drafted by the defending Super Bowl champion Baltimore Ravens as a safety at 32nd overall. Elam was a safety for the University of Florida Gators for three seasons. Prior to that, he played for the William T. Dwyer Panthers in Palm Beach Gardens as a defensive back and running back. He won the FHSAA Class 4A state championship with them back in 2009.
    Three former local high school players were picked in the second round. University of North Carolina Tar Heels running back Giovani Bernard was the fifth pick in the second round by the Cincinnati Bengals after two seasons in college. Bernard played for the St. Thomas Aquinas Raiders as a running back and defensive back. He won the FHSAA Class 5A state championship in 2007 and 2008.
    Two selections later, West Virginia University quarterback and four-year player Geno Smith was picked by the New York Jets. He was a quarterback and defensive back for the Miramar Patriots. His team made the state semifinals in 2008 and lost to the Miami-Northwestern Bulls in the Orange Bowl.
    The Chicago Bears selected University of Florida middle linebacker Jonathan Bostic with the 50th pick overall. He stayed with the Gators for four seasons and played linebacker for the Palm Beach Central Broncos prior to that. He never played in a high school playoff game.
    The third round had two players with local ties picked. Corey Lemonier was selected by the San Francisco 49ers with 88th overall pick. He played three seasons with the University of Auburn Tigers as a defensive end and helped them win the 2010 NCAA national championship. He played his high school football for the Hialeah Thoroughbreds.
    West Virginia wide receiver Stedman Bailey was picked four selections later by St. Louis Rams. He played three seasons with the Mountaineers and prior to that played for the Miramar Patriots alongside Geno Smith for four years. Bailey will be teamed up with fellow college teammate wide receiver Tavon Austin, who the Rams drafted in the first round.
    The fifth round began with the Jacksonville Jaguars and their selection of Denard Robinson as the 135th overall pick. He was a quarterback for the University of Michigan Wolverines for four years and is expected to play running back or wide receiver in the NFL. Robinson was a quarterback and defensive back for the Deerfield Beach Bucks and led them to the 2005 Class 6A state final at Dolphins Stadium where they lost to Palm Beach Gardens.
    University of Miami Hurricanes cornerback Brandon McGee was selected fourteen picks later by the St. Louis Rams. He spent four years with the Canes and prior to that played for the Plantation Colonels.