A look at the 40 U.S. National Team alums who've been selected in the NFL Draft

By Cole Bredahl | Posted 4/23/2020

With the 2020 NFL Draft set to take place virtually starting today, it'll be a big day for several former U.S. National Team players, in addition to the hundreds of other prospective draftees.

11 U.S. National Team alumni will wait eagerly over the course of the next three days to see which team will make a lifelong dream come true and allow them to join the other 40 National Team alums that have been drafted over the past eight years.

  • DB Trajan Bandy, Miami
  • RB Eno Benjamin, Arizona State
  • DB Trevon Diggs, Alabama
  • DT Demerick Gary, SMU
  • C Matt Hennessy, Temple
  • DB Jared Mayden, Alabama
  • WR Jalen Reagor, TCU
  • WR Laviska Shenault, Jr., Colorado
  • RB D'Andre Swift, Georgia
  • RB Jonathan Taylor, Wisconsin
  • DE Chase Young, Ohio State

While they await their names to be called, here’s a look at past U.S. National Team players who have been selected in the NFL Draft and how they’ve fared in their NFL careers:

2019

Dwayne Haskins, QB, Ohio State (round 1, pick 15, Washington Redskins)

Haskins played nine games, starting seven, in his rookie season. He accumulated 1,365 passing yards and seven touchdowns as well as 101 rushing yards. Haskins enters the 2020 season on top of Redskins’ quarterback depth chart where he’ll look to build off a strong final two weeks of his 2019 campaign that included a 70% completion rate, 394 yards, four touchdowns and zero interceptions.

N’Keal Harry, WR, Arizona State (round 1, pick 32, New England Patriots)

Harry collected 12 receptions for 105 yards and two touchdowns in the second half of his rookie season. Harry missed the first eight weeks with an ankle injury sustained in training camp. His selection last year marked the first time the Patriots drafted a wideout in the first round during Bill Belichick’s tenure.

Dalton Risner, OG, Kansas State (round 2, pick 41, Denver Broncos)

Risner started all 16 games for the Broncos at offensive guard. His impressive rookie campaign landed him on the Pro Football Writers Association All-Rookie Team.

Mecole Hardman, WR, Georgia (round 2, pick 56, Kansas City Chiefs)

Hardman became a key piece of the Super Bowl champion Chiefs, playing in every game last season. Hardman tallied 538 receiving yards and six touchdowns on 26 reception, leading the team with a 20.7-yard average per catch. Hardman earned a second-team All-Pro honors and a Pro Bowl nod for his kick return success including a 104-yard return that keyed a second-half comeback win over the Los Angeles Chargers.

Taylor Rapp, S, Washington (round 2, pick 61, Los Angeles Rams)

Rapp helped the Rams secondary in his first season by starting 10 games. His first career NFL interception was returned for a touchdown. Rapp finished the season with two interceptions, a fumble recovery and 100 tackles.

Vosean Joseph, LB, Florida (round 5, pick 147, Buffalo Bills)

Joseph will look to get his playing career in the NFL going this season after having a season-ending shoulder surgery in September.

2018

Isaiah Wynn, OT, Georgia (round 1, pick 23, New England Patriots)

Wynn missed all of the 2018 season with a torn Achilles and sat out 8 games in 2019 with an injury, but shined in the eight games he played in for the Pats.

Harrison Phillips, DT, Stanford (round 3, pick 96, Buffalo Bills)

Phillips played all 16 games of his rookie season and started off his second season well before suffering a torn ACL three games into 2019. He has collected 38 tackles, four tackle for loss and a fumble recovery.

Shaquem Griffin, LB, UCF (round 5, pick 141, Seattle Seahawks)

Griffin joined his twin brother and fellow U.S. National Team alum Shaquill once again as a member of the Seahawks in 2018. In his two-year career, Shaquem has played in every game he’s been in a Seahawks uniform, amassing 13 tackles and three QB hits.

Justin Jackson, RB, Northwestern (round 7, pick 251, Los Angeles Chargers)

Jackson has been in a backup role for the Chargers the past two seasons. In his role, he has run for 406 yards and two touchdowns on 79 attempts to go along with 157 receiving yards on 24 catches. With the departure of Melvin Gordon to Denver, Jackson is poised to play a bigger part in the Bolts’ offense in 2020.

Wyatt Teller, OG, Virginia Tech (round 5, pick 166, Buffalo Bills)

Teller started seven games with the Bills at left guard in his rookie season. He was traded the following season to the Browns, appearing in 15 games in which he started the final nine.

2017

Ethan PocicC, LSU (round 2, pick 58, Seattle Seahawks)

Pocic has been a consistent force in the middle of the Seahawks offensive line, starting 16 games and playing in 30 over the past three seasons.

Shaquill GriffinCB, Central Florida (round 3, pick 90, Seattle Seahawks)

Shaquill has led the Seahawks defense over the last three seasons, contributing 186 tackles, 36 passes defensed and three interceptions. He earned his first Pro Bowl nomination in 2019.

Jourdan LewisCB, Michigan (round 3, pick 92, Dallas Cowboys)

Lewis has shut down opposing pass catchers over the past three season. Lewis has four interceptions, 117 tackles and 17 passes defensed in 46 career games.

Samaje PerineRB, Oklahoma (round 4, pick 114, Washington Redskins)

Perine, now with the Miami Dolphins, has played 28 career games. He has rushed for 651 yards and a touchdown.

Ben Gedeon, LB, Michigan (round 4, pick 120, Minnesota Vikings)

Gedeon, who’s appeared in 39 games and started 22 for a stingy Vikings defense, has racked up 103 tackles in three seasons.

Rodney AdamsWR, South Florida (round 5, pick 170, Minnesota Vikings)

Rodney Adams played one game with the Minnesota Vikings and he now is on the active roster for the Indianapolis Colts.

Ifeadi Odenigbo, DE, Northwestern (round 7, pick 220, Minnesota Vikings)

Odenigbo played all 16 games for the Vikings last season and finished the year with 23 tackles, seven sacks, one forced fumble and two fumble recoveries, one of which was returned for a touchdown.

2016

Corey ColemanWR, Baylor (round 1, pick 15, Cleveland Browns)

Coleman, currently a New York Giant, missed all last season with a torn ACL. In 27 career games, Coleman has collected 789 receiving yards and five touchdown receptions.

Kevin HoganQB, Stanford (round 5, pick 162, Kansas City Chiefs)

Hogan, who is currently a free agent, played eight games for the Browns in 2016 and 2017. He threw for 621 yards and four touchdowns.

Joey HuntC, TCU (round 6, pick 215, Seattle Seahawks)

Hunt has played 34 games for the Seahawks, starting 11.

DeMarcus AyersWR, Houston (round 7, pick 229, Pittsburgh Steelers)

Ayers played two career games for the Steelers in 2016 catching six passes for 53 yards and a touchdown and was recently signed by the Saskatchewan Roughriders of the Canadian Football League.

2015

Jameis WinstonQB, Florida State (round 1, pick 1, Tampa Bay Buccaneers)

In five NFL seasons, Winston has completed 1,563 of 2,548 passes for 19,737 yards and 121 touchdowns and has rushed for 1,044 yards and 10 TDs. Recently named a free agent, he was named to the 2015 Pro Bowl as a rookie and led the league in passing yards in 2019.

Todd GurleyRB, Georgia (round 1, pick 10, St. Louis Rams)

Gurley, now an Atlanta Falcon, enjoyed a successful five seasons for the Rams including two First-Team All-Pro selections, three Pro Bowls and a nod as NFL Offensive Rookie of the Year. Gurley has run for 5,404 yards and 58 touchdowns to go with 2,090 receiving yards and 12 receiving touchdowns. In 2017, he was awarded the NFL’s Offensive Player of the Year after leading the NFL in rushing touchdowns, a feat he’d accomplish in 2018 as well.

Malcom BrownDT, Texas (round 1, pick 32, New England Patriots)

Brown, now with the New Orleans Saints, has stockpiled 220 tackles, 20 tackles for loss and 10.5 sacks. He won two Super Bowls with the Patriots.

Devin FunchessWR, Michigan (round 2, pick 41, Carolina Panthers)

Funchess recently signed with the Green Bay Packers. He has caught 164 passes for 2,264 yards and 21 touchdowns in five seasons with the Panthers and the Indianapolis Colts.

Alex Carter, CB, Stanford (round 3, pick 80, Detroit Lions)

Current free agent Alex Carter has played two games for the Lions and Washington Redskins. He has had stints on the New England Patriots, Seattle Seahawks, Chicago Bears and Carolina Panthers practice squads.

Ty Montgomery, WR/RB, Stanford (round 3, pick 94, Green Bay Packers)

Montgomery, currently a free agent, transitioned to a running back in 2016. He has run for 1,035 yards and seven touchdowns and added 982 receiving yards with the Packers, Ravens and Jets.

Bryce PettyQB, Baylor (round 4, pick 103, New York Jets)

Petty, a free agent who last appeared in 2017, played 10 games for the Jets completing 130 of 245 passes for 1,353 yards and four touchdowns.

Michael BennettDT, Ohio State (round 6, pick 180, Jacksonville Jaguars)

Bennett is currently a free agent. He has collected 16 tackles in 16 career games. He last appeared with the Falcons in 2018.

2014

Stephon TuittDE, Notre Dame (round 2, pick 46, Pittsburgh Steelers)

Tuitt has been a steady producer for the Steelers. In six seasons, he has accumulated 201 tackles, 23.5 sacks and four forced fumbles.

Jack Mewhort, OT, Ohio State (round 2, pick 59, Indianapolis Colts)

Mewhort suffered knee injuries throughout his career. He retired before the 2018 season after playing in 45 games for the Colts.

Josh Huff, WR, Oregon (round 3, pick 86, Philadelphia Eagles)

Huff played three NFL seasons tallying 523 receiving yards and four touchdowns. He is now a member of the CFL’s Calgary Stampeders.

Tevin Reese, WR, Baylor (round 7, pick 240, San Diego Chargers)

Reese has yet to play an NFL game. The Chargers waived him before the 2014 season, and the Cincinnati Bengals then signed him to their practice squad, where he remained until the end of the 2015 preseason. He last played football for the CFL’s Winnipeg Blue Bombers in 2016.

2013

Aaron Dobson, WR, Marshall (round 2, pick 59, New England Patriots)

Dobson played three seasons with the Patriots, including their 2014 Super Bowl championship season. He totaled 53 catches for 698 yards and four touchdowns during that time. He is currently a free agent.

Tyrann Mathieu, FS, LSU (round 3, pick 69, Arizona Cardinals)

Mathieu has made a name for himself as one of the best safeties in the league. He contributed four interceptions, 12 passes defensed and 75 tackles during the Chiefs’ championship season. Mathieu has been twice named First-Team All-Pro (2015, 2019) and is a member of the NFL’s 2010s All-Decade Team. In seven seasons piling up 17 interceptions, 61 passes defensed and 472 tackles.

Brian Winters, OG, Kent State (round 3, pick 72, New York Jets)

Winters just completed his seventh season with the Jets, starting 79 career games.

Oday Aboushi, OT, Virginia (round 5, pick 141, New York Jets)

Aboushi, now with the Detroit Lions, has also played with the Jets, Houston Texans, Seattle Seahawks and Arizona Cardinals. He has played 49 career games, starting 34.

Jordan Poyer, CB, Oregon State (round 7, pick 218, Philadelphia Eagles)

Poyer, entering his fourth season in Buffalo, was a key cog in helping the Bills to their first playoff appearance in 2017 since 1999. He intercepted five passes, returning one for a touchdown, and collected a pair of sacks to go with 95 tackles. He played most of his career with the Cleveland Browns, before moving to Buffalo in 2017, with career totals of 426 tackles,13 interceptions and six sacks.

2012

David Wilson, RB, Virginia Tech (round 1, pick 32, New York Giants)

The first U.S. National Team alum to be drafted, Wilson played two seasons with the Giants, during which he rushed for 504 yards on 115 carries with four touchdowns, caught six passes for 42 yards and a TD, and averaged 26.6 yards on 66 kickoff returns, including a 97-yard touchdown during his rookie season. 

Share