The following article will be published in the June issue of Campus Talk, a magazine local to Tampa, Orlando, Gainesville and Tallahassee.  If you're a local, pick one up and increase their circulation.  They also have lots of pictures of pretty girls for extra motivation.  Please excuse the brevity, fellow draftheads... had to recap the first round in 1200 words or less.

Every June, fans line up outside Radio City Music Hall for one of the most anticipated sporting events of the year:  the NFL Draft.   While players like Eli and Peyton Manning have changed the course of their franchises, so have Michael Vick and Ryan Leaf.  Drafts traditionally feature early round busts (Tim Couch # 1 in 1999) and late round bargains (Tom Brady # 199 in 2000)

The following is a recount of the 2008 NFL Draft which will surely introduce the superstars and busts of tomorrow.

1 – Dolphins – Jake Long, OT, Michigan.  After a 1-15 season, Bill Parcells expects Long to help rebuild.  At 6’7”, 315 lbs., Long will solidify Miami’s offensive line.  All they need is a quarterback for him to protect.  Miami also drafted Michigan quarterback Chad Henne.

2 – Rams – Chris Long, DE, Virginia. Son of Hall of Famer Howie Long, Chris comes from championship pedigree.  Although St Louis will need more than Long to keep opponents from scoring, he is a step in the right direction.

3 – Falcons – Matt Ryan, QB, Boston College.  After a turbulent 2007, Falcons fans are eager to embrace their future.  Although it’s rare for a quarterback to make an immediate impact, the Falcons expect Ryan to eventually become the face of the franchise.   

4 – Raiders – Darren McFadden, RB, Arkansas.  With JaMarcus Russell, the Raiders have their future quarterback/running tandem back in place.  A two-time Heisman runner-up, McFadden’s game should translate nicely to the NFL. 

5 – Chiefs – Glenn Dorsey, DT, LSU.  In a draft loaded with talent at the top, Dorsey is another player that could have been selected number one.  At 6’2”, 316 lbs., Dorsey was the cornerstone of LSU’s national championship team. 

6 – Jets – Vernon Gholston, DE, Ohio State.  In June, Jets fans outnumber Rockettes in Radio City Music Hall.  This year was no exception.  Gholston played in two national championship games at Ohio State.  The Jets also drafted Tennessee quarterback Erik Ainge in the fifth round.

7 – Saints – Sedrick Ellis, DT, USC.  Unable to land Glenn Dorsey, New Orleans opted for Ellis.  In the wide open NFC South, the Saints will look to Ellis and newly acquired Jonathan Vilma to keep opposing offenses off the field and Reggie Bush on it. 

8 – Jaguars – Derrick Harvey, DE, Florida.  With only two players drafted, Harvey was the pick of the litter for Florida.  The Jaguars love their Gators as they also feature Reggie Nelson, Fred Taylor, Mike Peterson and Jeremy Mincey.  Playing in the same division as the Colts, the Jags expect Harvey to bolster their pass rush.   

9 – Bengals – Keith Rivers, LB, USC.  We’re not sure what’s more amazing?  That USC can lose so much talent and still contend or that Chad Johnson is still a Bengal.  While Rivers is far from the missing ingredient for an underachieving Bengals team, he should still contribute to a defense that can’t opponents out of the end zone.  The Bengals also selected Gator Andre Caldwell to join their dysfunctional cast of characters.

10 – Patriots – Jerod Mayo, LB, Tennessee.  An aging Patriots team sees Mayo as an eventual replacement for Teddy Bruschi, Mike Vrabel and Junior Seau.  He could do worse than to learn from these Hall of Famers.   We’re still wondering how the Pats went undefeated and drafted tenth.

11 - Bills - Leodis McKelvin, CB, Troy.  Drafted as a corner, the Bills will look to McKelvin to return kicks and punts, which could bring some well-needed excitement and offense.

12 – Broncos, Ryan Crady, OT, Boise State.  Denver continues to assemble an offensive line to create space for its running game and protect Jay Cutler.  Crady became the first Boise State player ever selected in the first round.

13 – Panthers - Jonathan Stewart, RB, Oregon.  Stewart was one of the most dynamic players in the nation last year.  Carolina also nabbed LB Dan Connor from Penn State in the third round.

14 – Bears - Chris Williams, OT, Vanderbilt.  A draft loaded with offensive linemen, Williams should fill a pressing need for a team needing to protect its rotating quarterbacks.

15 – Chiefs - Branden Albert, OG, Virginia.  With the retirement of Willie Roaf, KC needs to shore up its line.  At 6’6”, 315 lbs., Albert’s a step in the right direction.

16 – Cardinals - Dominique Rodgers-Cromartie, CB, Tennessee State.  Always seemingly one step away from the playoffs, Cromartie adds to Arizona’s youth movement that might one day live up to its potential.

17 – Lions - Gosder Cherilus, OT, Boston College.  After selecting wide receivers first in four of their last five drafts, Detroit finally went with a lineman.  The Lions also stole UCF running back, Kevin Smith, in the third round.

18 – Ravens - Joe Flacco, QB, Delaware.  The retirement of Steve McNair leaves a gaping hole for Baltimore.  While Kyle Boller should start next year, Flacco’s early selection means he’ll ultimately be the one taking the snaps.

19 – Panthers - Jeff Otah, OT, Pittsburgh.  Carolina had Otah high on their draft board, which is why they traded up with Philadelphia to get him.  Although 6’6”, 339 lbs., many questioned Otah’s commitment.

20 – Buccaneers - Aqib Talib, DB, Kansas.  Offensive minded Coach Jon Gruden went defense to add youth to his aging secondary.  Talib will also see time on special teams.

21 – Falcons - Sam Baker, OT, USC.  Baker can play either guard or tackle for Atlanta.  Expect him to protect Matt Ryan for the next decade.

22 – Cowboys - Felix Jones, RB, Arkansas.  With lightning quick speed, the undersized Jones could provide a few highlight reel moments in Dallas’ backfield.

23 – Steelers - Rashard Mendenhall, RB, Illinois.  Pittsburgh could not believe Mendenhall was still around when they selected him at 23.  He was sixth in the nation in rushing and should fit nicely into the Pittsburgh backfield.

24 – Titans - Chris Johnson, RB, East Carolina.  Tennessee has more pressing issues since they already feature Lendale White, Chris Brown and Vince Young.  It’s unlikely this pick will be as problematic as their 2005 selection, Pacman Jones.

25 – Cowboys - Mike Jenkins, DB, South Florida.  Jerry Jones was so high on Jenkins, he traded Seattle two later round draft picks to get him.

26 – Texans - Duane Brown, OT, Virginia Tech.  The Texans liked Chris Williams, drafted by the Bears, but went with Brown who played both tackle and tight end in college.

27 – Chargers - Antoine Cason, DB, Arizona.  A solid late first round pick for San Diego, Cason could also see time on special teams.  Cason’s father and three of his cousins have played in the NFL.

28 – Seahawks – Lawrence Jackson, DE, USC.  One of four Trojans selected in the first round.  USC led all schools with twelve players drafted. 

29 – 49ers – Kentwan Ballmer, DT, UNC.  Another versatile player, Ballmer can play either tackle or end for San Francisco who have recently had a porous defense.

30 – Jets – Dustin Keller, TE, Purdue.  This pick may have been more a way of keeping him away from the Giants.  The Jets only question is who will be throwing Keller the ball.

31 – Giants – Kenny Phillips, FS, Miami.  Still celebrating their Super Bowl championship, the G-Men expect Phillips to fill in at both corner and safety.