ASU, UA bounce back in 2014 NFL Draft
May 11, 2014, 12:59 AM | Updated: 2:00 am
A year after an NFL Draft lowpoint for members of the Territorial Cup rivalry, things appear to be back on track.
Not a single player from Arizona State or the University of Arizona was selected in last year’s draft.
It makes sense — both programs were at somewhat of a low point, and both were breaking in first-year coaches, which may have led to an attrition of talent the previous season.
But the two schools combined for six draftees this year, and it doesn’t look like that number will be declining any time soon.
UA running back Ka’Deem Carey and ASU D-lineman Will Sutton will be teammates in Chicago, while Sun Devils Marion Grice and Carl Bradford were selected by the San Diego Chargers and Green Bay Packers, respectively.
On the UA side, Marquis Flowers was selected by the Cincinnati Bengals and Shaquille Richardson went to the Pittsburgh Steelers.
While the rivalry game itself was lopsided in ASU’s favor last season, there’s no denying that the talent level as a whole is on the rise. Both rosters have several potential draftees in the coming years, and both are in positions to be competitive in the Pac-12 South division.
And Saturday, in the wake of the draft, seven ASU products signed as undrafted free agents.