The Wisconsin Badgers fared well in the NFL draft. Two picked in the first round (J J Watt and Gabe Carimi) and five overall. The others were tight end Lance Kendricks (Round 2), guard John Moffit (Round 3) and Center/Guard Bill Nagy (Round 7). I can't recall a season when as many Badgers were drafted. Certainly not with as many in the early rounds.
As I expected might happen, John Clay did not get drafted. Not a surprise for someone who was often injured, ran glacially slow at his pro day, ballooned up to 270 lbs during his last playing season (although he cut down to about 230 lbs. for his pro day event) and showed no pass receiving ability. While Clay put up big numbers running the ball, the fact that 4 seniors who played on the offensive line (I am including Kendricks here) got drafted might have as much if not more to do with that than Clay did.
The Milwaukee Journal Sentinel ran a headline on the website today saying "Clay heads list of UW's undrafted players." I beg to differ. Quarterback Scott Tolzein is also on the list of undrafted senior Badgers who are likely to sign free agent contracts. There is no doubt in my mind Tolzein will have a better and longer NFL career than John Clay. In fact, I will be mildly surprised to see John Clay on an NFL roster when the season starts - whenever it starts.
Some people commenting on the Journal Sentinel blog criticized Clay, and in doing so also criticized former Badger running back PJ Hill, for leaving school and entering the NFL draft with a year of college eligibility remaining. I do not. Clay (and Hill) left school to enter the draft because it was their best shot at the NFL. If Clay returned next year, I doubt he would be the starting tailback even if healthy. He might not even be the first backup. If he tried to enter the NFL after a season as a little used back up for a Badger team that is not likely to be competing for a Big 10 title do you think he would have ANY chance of being drafted - or even signed as a free agent? I don't. Hill made the same choice for the same reasons. Taking a long shot is better than not getting a shot at all. Both made the right call.
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