Sunday, August 1, 2010

USF lineman signs big contract; exceeds Jenkins

Jason Pierre-Paul was only with the USF football team for a year, but he will be remembered for a long time and it just won’t be for unseating George Selvie as the Bulls top defensive end in 2009.

The 15th overall pick this year’s NFL draft with the New York Giants, the 6-6, 260 pounder out of Deerfield Beach signed for a reported $20.05 million in a five year deal with $11.62 million guaranteed. He is the highest pick in the history of the 14 year-old program.

The deal between Pierre-Paul and the Giants was consumed on Saturday night, prior to the opening of the Giants training camp in Albany, New York. His contract is the biggest awarded to a USF player coming directly out of the draft.

Pierre-Paul had only season of major college football and the thinking is it might take some time for him to develop. The Giants are pretty well stocked at defensive end so the thinking is the staff is willing to wait awhile because the coaches are so enamored by his athleticism.

Last season, he had 45 tackles with 6.5 sacks for minus 29 yards and 16.5 tackles for losses with a team high seven quarterback pressures.

USF’S only other NFL first round pick is Southeast grad Mike Jenkins. The cornerback was the 25th selection in the 2008 draft and signed a $9.275 million contract with the Dallas Cowboys that included $3.1 million signing bonus and $6.75 million guaranteed.

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