Ivy League shut out

For the second year in a row and just the third time since 1997, no Ivy Leaguers were taken in the NFL draft.

Harvard quarterback Chris Pizzotti was the only Ivy League player included in the NFL.com database.

While I am not an NFL scout nor do I play one on TV and I did not stay in a Holiday Inn Express last night but something tells me there could be more Ivy League players on the radar of NFL scouts next year.

Harvard offensive tackle James Williams would seem to be a natural to end the drought of Ivy Leaguers. Yale linebacker Paul Rice has the size to draw some interest and every NFL scout that visited Yale practice in the last year to check out the seniors came away most impressed with punter Tom Mante, who will also be a senior. Eight juniors were first team All-Ivy selections and another nine were second teamers. While Ivy League success doesn't always translate into having your name called on draft weekend, there are some other interesting prospects including Princeton running back Jordan Culbreath and Harvard receiver Matt Luft, who is listed at 6-6, 225 pounds on the Crimson's roster so could he follow the path former Yale receiver Eric Johnson took to become a tight end in the NFL? Brown's prolific receivers Buddy Farnham and Bobby Sewall and Columbia receiver Austin Knowlin have had impressive careers but only time will tell if their physical attributes lead to a call on draft weekend 2010.

I hope to hear about the situation Mike McLeod, Bobby Abare, Joe Hathaway and Kyle Hawari, who all hope to be invited to training camps as undrafted free agents, shortly.

While no members of the 2008 Yale team were drafted, four prospects who played for current Yale assistants last season got the call.

Hawaii, which included Yale defensive coordinator Ikaika Malloe on its 2008 staff, had three players drafted. Defensive end David Velkune was taken with the 52nd pick by Cleveland, cornerback Ryan Mouton went 94th overall to Tennessee while New England selected long snapper Jake Ingram with the 198th pick. San Diego State offensive lineman Lance Louis was taken with the 246th pick by Chicago. Yale offensive coordinator was the tight ends coach at San Diego State in '08.