Mitchell, Selvie give USF record on draft's final day

TAMPA They had to wait most of the afternoon to hear their names called, but University of South Florida receiver Carlton Mitchell and defensive end George Selvie both received the news they hoped for Saturday: They were selected on the final day of the NFL draft.

Cleveland selected Mitchell in the sixth round, and Selvie went to the St. Louis Rams in the seventh round. The three-day draft ended with a school-record five USF players selected: defensive end Jason Pierre-Paul (Giants, first round), safety Nate Allen (Eagles, second), cornerback Jerome Murphy (Rams, third), Mitchell and Selvie, making the 2010 draft class the most successful in school history.

USF had never had more than three players selected in a single draft (2001 and 2003).

A product of Gaither High, Mitchell opted to pass up his senior season and enter the draft after setting a school record with 706 receiving yards last season. Despite some mock drafts having him go as high as the third round following a strong performance at the NFL Combine, Mitchell is confident he made the right decision to leave school early after being the 19th receiver taken.

"I still stand behind my decision," Mitchell said. "I have no regrets in life and I still have a love and passion for this sport. I'm ready to go in and start working right now."

Mitchell, a 6-foot-3, 215-pound combination of speed and size, was taken with the 177th pick and said he is excited to work with former Texas quarterback Colt McCoy, drafted by the Browns in the third round.

"He is an absolute playmaker with a lot of potential," ESPN draft analyst Todd McShay said when the Browns picked Mitchell.

Meanwhile, the Rams made Selvie the 226th pick near the conclusion of Saturday's final round.

Selvie was once considered a first-round draft pick, but his inability to keep on weight and questions about his upper-body strength dropped his draft stock considerably the past two seasons.

Selvie led the nation with a school-record 31.5 tackles for loss as a sophomore - including 14 sacks - but he managed only eight sacks over his final two seasons for the Bulls.

He was overshadowed during the combine and USF Pro Day by Pierre-Paul. Selvie will compete for a roster spot with two other defensive ends - Louisiana Lafayette's Hall Davis and West Texas A&M's Eugene Sims - the Rams selected Saturday.

"A lot of people watch film and they see J.P.P., but you watch the film on him, No. 95 will jump out," Rams coach Steve Spagnuolo said of Selvie on the team's website. "He flashed as a pass rusher and he's got some size."

Former USF linebacker Kion Wilson (Chargers) and receiver Jesse Hester (Lions) will challenge for spots as free-agent invitees.