After 10 Conference USA players were selected in the National Football League Draft last weekend, many more players have secured an opportunity to continue their careers at the professional level. Below is a list on confirmed rookie free agent signings, as of 5 pm CT on April 30:
Ten Conference USA players were taken in the 2012 National Football League Draft, which concluded on Saturday evening. Memphis DT Dontari Poe was the first player selected, going to the Kansas City Chiefs in the first round. Seven C-USA schools had at least one player chosen, led by SMU, which had four players picked.
Former Marshall defensive end Vinny Curry has been selected in the second round (59th overall) by the Philadelphia Eagles in the 2012 National Football League Draft.
Declaring for the NFL Draft a year early paid off for junior defensive lineman Dontari Poe as he was selected 11th by the Kansas City Chiefs in the first round of the NFL Draft Thursday evening. Poe is the first Memphis Tiger selected in the first round since DeAngelo Williams was the 27th overall pick by the Carolina Panthers in the 2006 NFL Draft.