Top 5 West Virginia Mountaineers NFL Draft Classes of All-Time
By Ken Durbin
3. 2000
Dec 4, 2011; Chicago, IL, USA; Kansas City Chiefs tight end Anthony Becht (88) before the game against the Chicago Bears at Soldier Field. Mandatory Credit: Rob Grabowski-USA TODAY Sports
1. Anthony Becht, TE, 27th overall to New York Jets
2. Jerry Porter, WR, 47th overall to Oakland Raiders
2. Barrett Green, LB, 50th overall to Detroit Lions
6. Marc Bulger, QB, 168th overall to New Orleans Saints
The 2000 draft class improved upon the quality West Virginia Mountaineers draft class of 1999. WVU landed three of the top 50 picks in the NFL draft and a really good sleeper pick in the 6th round.
Marc Bulger clearly had the best professional career of this group, becoming a two time Pro Bowl selection for the St. Louis Rams. But Bulger’s career almost never was.
He bounced around practice squads with the Saints, Falcons, and Rams before getting an opportunity to start for the Rams after Kurt Warner and back-up quarterback Jamie Martin went down with injuries.
Bulger wowed in six starts and earned the right to be the starting quarterback of the Rams, earning Pro Bowl nods in 2003 and 2006.
Becht, Porter, and Green wee each serviceable pro players showing flashes of greatness from time to time. Of this group, Joey Porter was the most exciting of the group. He wowed early in his career before taking a backseat to future Hall of Famers Tim Brown and Jerry rice on way to an appearance in Super Bowl XXXVII.
Overall, this class was the peak draft class of the Don Nehlen era. Also at her peak in 2000 was Faith Hill: