Every Big Ten team had at least one player selected in the 2015 NFL Draft except for Illinois. In 2014, Illini football were also shut out of pro football’s selection party. In other words, the NFL Draft became yet another Illini free zone under the Mike Thomas regime like New Year’s Day Bowls, the NCAA Tournament’s second weekend, the NBA Draft, the McDonald’s All-American Game etc.
Well, scratch at least one of those big events of the list because DL Jihad Ward is set to end the drought. He’ll do it with authority too as he’s projected to be a potential second or third round pick.
Jihad Ward was invited to the draft but declined because he didn't want to miss class. He's on track to graduate this semester.
— Matt Miller (@nfldraftscout) April 21, 2016
Ward was even invited to the NFL Draft, but turned it down because he’s focused on completing his academic requirements.
(Related: our most recent 2016 NFL mock draft update)
NFL Network’s resident draftnik Mike Mayock did a media call and he brought up the name Jihad Ward twice.
“kind of an interesting second-round conversation, as far as defensive line, there’s going to be a ton of those guys sitting there, Kenny Clark from UCLA, Billings from Baylor, and they might be gone, but my point is whether it’s them, Fuller, Butler from LA Tech, Adolphus Washington with some real pass rush ability and some off-the-field issues, but Adolphus Washington is probably going to be an early second-round pick, Sheldon Day from Notre Dame, Jihad Ward, there’s a whole group of guys early in the second round that if you get stuck, you’re going to find a defensive lineman that fits every scheme.”
Illini football used to be a prominent NFL Draft pipeline. Only three times in the past 43 years have we seen a draft without an Illini player taken.
As recently as 2013, the Illini had more NFL Draft picks than any Big Ten team; despite going 2-10 the previous college football season. From 2007-2012, the Illini football program had more first round draft picks than any other Big Ten team. Illinois had their guys taken in both the first and second round in both the 2011 and 2012 drafts; despite the Illini going just 14-12 combined in the two seasons preceding those two drafts.
Going beyond that, a 2013 Wall Street Journal study found that Illini football was the “quietest football factory” in America, as the Illini led the nation in NFL starters per college wins ratio.
Obviously, the last two years have been lean. Think Keira Knightley on ephedra lean. However, it looks like Ward will bring it back. Later on the call, Mayock was asked about the Denver Broncos, and Malik Jackson?
“Malik Jackson was a great pick several years ago. People were all talking about who is the next Malik Jackson out there, and a guy like Jihad Ward from Illinois who’s a second or third-round pick would be an interesting pick,” said Mayock.
Jihad is a guy that only had minimal NFL Draft stock entering this season, but he set a goal that he would put himself in position to reach the league. Now it seems that he’s about realize that goal and accomplish something very special a week from tonight.
Jihad Ward isn’t the only Illini football player who could hear his name get called this year. Safety Clayton Fejedelem and running back Josh Ferguson figure to get drafted, in the mid to later rounds.
Paul M. Banks runs The Sports Bank.net, partnered with FOX Sports Engage Network. and News Now. Banks, a former writer for the Washington Times, currently contributes regularly to the Chicago Tribune’s RedEye publication and Bold Global.
He also consistently appears on numerous talk shows all across the country. Follow him on Twitter and Instagram