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Because every draft is a crapshoot, we're going to take a look back at the IFL's first Amateur Draft to see how teams really turned out and grade them accordingly. Teams will be done in alphabetical order.
Albuquerque Matadors
Draft Picks -
1.16 - RG Brian Pihos
Pihos was the 5th guard taken off the board in 2004, and currently is the 4th highest in the league in his year group. He's the current Matador offensive line leader. He's not the most durable, but his stats are solid and he's been a starter since day 1.
2.14 - WR Louis Halstead
Also a starter from Day 1, Halstead was the 4th WR taken out of a notoriously weak WR class. He's currently the 2nd best rated WR in his year group. Pulling a regular starter out of the mid-2nd round is a solid pick.
3.19 - TE Ellis Connell
Retired
4.28 - RB Vincent Gaskin
Retired
5.14 - CB Ernest Crawford
Retired
7.16 - QB Graham Foulke
This All-Pro kick holder didn't make final cuts in Albuquerque and has since had 2 year stints in Vermont and Oakland. Landed this season in Norfolk.
The Matadors have 2 quality starters from 2004 and nothing else to show for the draft.
Overall Grade - B-
Anchorage Lynx
Draft Picks -
1.28 - QB Skip Hildebrand
Hildebrand started all games as a rookie compiling a decent 74.7 passer rating. The Lynx weren't impressed and pick up Rob Richardson at 8th overall the next year and the 2 shared starts in 2005. Since then Hildebrand has started 1 game.
2.16 - DE Ron Hill
The Lynx struck gold with Hill. He started 12 games in his first season and has been the permanent starter since. He was the 3rd DE to come off the board, but surpassed both players taken before him.
4.13 - C Ron Fisher
Never more than a backup when he's active.
5.15 - WLB John Gaynor
Retired
6.17 - FL Mike Levine
Retired
7.17 - RG Amos Austen
Lasted 3 seasons playing in 6 games with Anchorage. Spent a year in Portlad, is now in Newark and a backup.
All Anchorage has to show for the 2004 draft is a starter and 2 backups, hardly a solid draft.
Overall Grade - C
Boston Dragons
Draft Picks -
1.21 - QB Ruben 'Picante' Sante
Spend 2004 on the bench and then started the next 36 games for the Dragons. Was traded 4 games into 2007 to Newark for QB J.B. Fogarty who could be a decent starter and a 2nd round pick which ended up being CB Lawrence Currie. their current nickel back. Both are raw, so it's hard to assess the trade impact.
2.7 - CB Bryan Gardner
Started off and on for Boston for 3 seasons before departing to Norfolk where he is currently a backup. 1 career INT in 4 seasons.
2.30 - SS Hunter Siglar
Retired
3.8 - DE Nick McDonald
Decent Backup
4.8 - RG Marcus Roscoe
Lucky to have a roster spot.
5.9 - SLB Shawn Hinsley
Very solid backup and a good find in the 5th round.
6.10 - Bo Woodson
Spent 3 years with the Dragons, one with Madison, and is currently a Free Agent.
7.10 - DT Marco Lester
Retired
The Sante trade seems like a wasted 1st rounder at this time. The only other worthwhile player from this draft is Hinsley.
Overall Grade - C-
California Heroes
Draft Picks -
1.14 - QB Darrell Wilson
Started 10 games over 2 seasons in California before injuries derailed him. Currently a 3rd string QB in Pittsburgh.
2.12 - WLB Lance Fox
Retired
3.12 - WR Dean Chellgrin
Retired
4.11 - WR Jay Poole
Retired
6.14 - DE Patrick Compton
Retired
7.14 - CB Deon Boyd
Retired
Not a single player left on the roster from the 2004 draft. On one bright note, they managed to find a starting DT in undrafted LDT Kenny Banks
Overall Grade - F
Cleveland Clawz
Draft Picks -
3.29 - QB Kurt Walsh
Lasted 1 season in Cleveland as a backup. Spent 2 years in St. Louis. Currently a Free Agent.
7.31 - DE Bruce Pemberton
Retired
2 picks, neither of which are still with the team. Cleveland's trade happy ways in 2004 leave no one from this year group on the roster.
Overall Grade - F
Columbia Fire
Draft Picks -
1.3 - CB Oliver McKenzie
Defensive Rookie of the Year and one of the best in the league at his position. A 2 time selection for All League 2nd team.
1.23 - DE Trent Hayden
Good Starter who had a career year in 2006 with 11 sacks. Blew his knee out in 2007 and is still recovering.
3.18 - LT Byron Quiroz
Spent 2 seasons as a backup in Columbia. Currently a Free Agent.
4.17 - SS Otis Tuman
Decent Backup
5.20 - RT Jospeh Farrell
Retired
6.21 - OLB Preston Cucina
Never played a down in Columbia. Started 12 games over 3 seasons in Portland. Spent one year in Hartford. Currently a free agent.
3 players left on the roster, two were starters, one is among the best in the league at his position, and the other may not ever recover to be the same again.
Overall Grade - B
That's all for now folks, I'll be adding to this over the next few days.
Albuquerque Matadors
Draft Picks -
1.16 - RG Brian Pihos
Pihos was the 5th guard taken off the board in 2004, and currently is the 4th highest in the league in his year group. He's the current Matador offensive line leader. He's not the most durable, but his stats are solid and he's been a starter since day 1.
2.14 - WR Louis Halstead
Also a starter from Day 1, Halstead was the 4th WR taken out of a notoriously weak WR class. He's currently the 2nd best rated WR in his year group. Pulling a regular starter out of the mid-2nd round is a solid pick.
3.19 - TE Ellis Connell
Retired
4.28 - RB Vincent Gaskin
Retired
5.14 - CB Ernest Crawford
Retired
7.16 - QB Graham Foulke
This All-Pro kick holder didn't make final cuts in Albuquerque and has since had 2 year stints in Vermont and Oakland. Landed this season in Norfolk.
The Matadors have 2 quality starters from 2004 and nothing else to show for the draft.
Overall Grade - B-
Anchorage Lynx
Draft Picks -
1.28 - QB Skip Hildebrand
Hildebrand started all games as a rookie compiling a decent 74.7 passer rating. The Lynx weren't impressed and pick up Rob Richardson at 8th overall the next year and the 2 shared starts in 2005. Since then Hildebrand has started 1 game.
2.16 - DE Ron Hill
The Lynx struck gold with Hill. He started 12 games in his first season and has been the permanent starter since. He was the 3rd DE to come off the board, but surpassed both players taken before him.
4.13 - C Ron Fisher
Never more than a backup when he's active.
5.15 - WLB John Gaynor
Retired
6.17 - FL Mike Levine
Retired
7.17 - RG Amos Austen
Lasted 3 seasons playing in 6 games with Anchorage. Spent a year in Portlad, is now in Newark and a backup.
All Anchorage has to show for the 2004 draft is a starter and 2 backups, hardly a solid draft.
Overall Grade - C
Boston Dragons
Draft Picks -
1.21 - QB Ruben 'Picante' Sante
Spend 2004 on the bench and then started the next 36 games for the Dragons. Was traded 4 games into 2007 to Newark for QB J.B. Fogarty who could be a decent starter and a 2nd round pick which ended up being CB Lawrence Currie. their current nickel back. Both are raw, so it's hard to assess the trade impact.
2.7 - CB Bryan Gardner
Started off and on for Boston for 3 seasons before departing to Norfolk where he is currently a backup. 1 career INT in 4 seasons.
2.30 - SS Hunter Siglar
Retired
3.8 - DE Nick McDonald
Decent Backup
4.8 - RG Marcus Roscoe
Lucky to have a roster spot.
5.9 - SLB Shawn Hinsley
Very solid backup and a good find in the 5th round.
6.10 - Bo Woodson
Spent 3 years with the Dragons, one with Madison, and is currently a Free Agent.
7.10 - DT Marco Lester
Retired
The Sante trade seems like a wasted 1st rounder at this time. The only other worthwhile player from this draft is Hinsley.
Overall Grade - C-
California Heroes
Draft Picks -
1.14 - QB Darrell Wilson
Started 10 games over 2 seasons in California before injuries derailed him. Currently a 3rd string QB in Pittsburgh.
2.12 - WLB Lance Fox
Retired
3.12 - WR Dean Chellgrin
Retired
4.11 - WR Jay Poole
Retired
6.14 - DE Patrick Compton
Retired
7.14 - CB Deon Boyd
Retired
Not a single player left on the roster from the 2004 draft. On one bright note, they managed to find a starting DT in undrafted LDT Kenny Banks
Overall Grade - F
Cleveland Clawz
Draft Picks -
3.29 - QB Kurt Walsh
Lasted 1 season in Cleveland as a backup. Spent 2 years in St. Louis. Currently a Free Agent.
7.31 - DE Bruce Pemberton
Retired
2 picks, neither of which are still with the team. Cleveland's trade happy ways in 2004 leave no one from this year group on the roster.
Overall Grade - F
Columbia Fire
Draft Picks -
1.3 - CB Oliver McKenzie
Defensive Rookie of the Year and one of the best in the league at his position. A 2 time selection for All League 2nd team.
1.23 - DE Trent Hayden
Good Starter who had a career year in 2006 with 11 sacks. Blew his knee out in 2007 and is still recovering.
3.18 - LT Byron Quiroz
Spent 2 seasons as a backup in Columbia. Currently a Free Agent.
4.17 - SS Otis Tuman
Decent Backup
5.20 - RT Jospeh Farrell
Retired
6.21 - OLB Preston Cucina
Never played a down in Columbia. Started 12 games over 3 seasons in Portland. Spent one year in Hartford. Currently a free agent.
3 players left on the roster, two were starters, one is among the best in the league at his position, and the other may not ever recover to be the same again.
Overall Grade - B
That's all for now folks, I'll be adding to this over the next few days.
!
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