USF DE Pierre-Paul not thinking about NFL yet

USF junior defensive end Jason Pierre-Paul is still in his first season of major college football but has already been projected as a potential first-round NFL Draft pick. He said Monday he hasn't thought much about his future in pro football and is trying to focus on his present challenges with the Bulls.

"Not really," Pierre-Paul said when asked about the draft hype. "People have said it and stuff, but as I've said before, I just go out and play football."

Asked if he was surprised that ESPN.com's Mel Kiper has him rated as the No. 13 player in the draft, Pierre-Paul said friends had told him but that he's just now becoming more aware of the draft process.

"My best friends (were) telling me about it, and I was surprised at first, but I didn't really know what all that stuff means until they really started to explain it to me, the coaches and stuff," Pierre-Paul said. "It was positive."

Pierre-Paul said his friends haven't pushed him in any direction, telling him to do what he wants, and he'll wait until after the season before making any decision about the NFL. USF has had just one first-round pick in its history -- cornerback Mike Jenkins to the Cowboys in 2008.

Opposing offensive linemen tasked with containing Pierre-Paul might find an extra motivation in going up against a projected first-round draft pick, but he said he hadn't noticed a bigger target on his back.

"I hadn't thought about it like that, but I guess so," he said.

You can watch the interview session with Pierre-Paul on USF's official site, GoUSFbulls.com.

Comments

[Chalko]

Stay at USF for another mediocre season or collect a $15 million signing bonus, not really a tough decision!

[MikeT]

I hope that JPP gets an honest opinion from the evaluators. Remember that Shurron Pierson is the only USF player to leave early, and his NFL career turned out to be less than steller. He most definitely would have benefitted from staying for his senior year, and my gut feeling is that JPP will benefit as well.

[Jupiter Bull]

He will likely do what Selvie & Grothe did last year, and get an independent evaluation. While it's great to think he'd want to stay, improve & win our first BE title, it's hard to argue with the economics/risk analysis if he could go in the first 2 rounds.

My view is he's raw and untested still, with huge upside. Scouts will say he needs more strength and to keep learning the position. I suspect the real placement would be 3-4th round, but there is still a lot of football left. He'll play some good competition, including a bowl game, and much more will be determined.

Selfishly, I want him here. But I get the risk/reward. So hopefully he plays lights out with Selvie, and we wreck O-lines. Selvie's stock has dropped...and he should be making a push for draft day as well. It starts at Rutgers...give Turd some ammo to cheer in NJ! GO BULLS!

[jcno]

We keep winning and it brings out the haters.

Perhaps a sign we have arrived?

[USFshould be 1-AA]

You people are wasting your time! USF is a joke of a program that have never won anything! Not a real bowl, not a conference championship, nothing!
But you have JUCO transfers of lesser intelligence and great billboards! haha

[Joe Simmons (Slow Joe)]

I seriously doubt he'd be draft in the first round. Too much bust potential in drafting a guy that's had such limited D-1 experience.

Second round, sure. But why not stay an extra year and try to improve on that?

[JB]

Players put in time in the college game to up their stock for the draft and a fat contract. If JPP is already projected as a "potential" first-rounder, then then only improvement he can make to up his stock would be to move up to a "definite" first-rounder. Is it worth him blowing out his knee or something to move from "potential" to "definite"? If you were in this guy's shoes...what would you do? Most wait to be in his shoes before they make the jump...and in less than 1 season, he's already there.

Now I agree that it would be great to see him stay, help in our quest for a BE title, and in the process, maybe even help our recruiting...BUT...I ask again...how many of you would pass up the NFL and a multi-million dollar contract to stay a broke college kid for one more year, and in the process, jeopordizing your health. Plus, let's not forget...even if he stays healthy, but has a less-than-stellar year, he goes from a potential first-rounder to a potential second or third-rounder.

Lots a risk here. I say he is declaring as eligible for the draft as soon as he can.

[USFShep]

Doubt he goes in first round. I expect those around him will give him the good advice to stay another year unless they know for darn sure teams will take him in first round. The guy lacks experience to be a first rounder. 8 games in D1?? Hope he brings it Thursday hard.

[Ken]

Weren't they saying that about Selvie last year, which, when investigated more carefully, turned into likely 3rd round, if I'm remembering correctly?

[SailingBull]

If he realistically has a shot at going in the first round, then by all means he should leave early. The interst earned on those $millions in his bank account now should be enough incentive.

As a Bulls fan, I'd love to see him play another year. But if he's a first round draft, it's better for him AND the program for him to "jump ship". I'd just be a little leary of sporstcasters predictions of him getting picked up in the first... Were I him, I'd really have to hear it a lot from some interested NFL teams before I'd believe it.

[bob]

Don't agree that Kiper is an idiot. Much of his rankings are based on discussions with NFL Scouts and GMs.

Sure he can be wrong about exactly where a guy should be drafted, but he's usually pretty accurate as far as a ballpark.

Scouts, Inc. has Jerome Murphy in their top 100. Now THAT is stupidity.

[David Weber]

I'm pretty sure he'll stick around. So far, he's an amazing prospect with a few examples of his big play ability. JPP could probably pack on some more muscle, but more importantly, another year will really improve the mental part of the game. He seems instinctive, but experience will make him even better. One thing is sure- JPP will have an outstanding combine in either year.

A good reference point is the DT Cody at Alabama- great first season after JUCO, but lots of room for improvement. Cody seems to have been pegged as a guy who doesn't have stamina, but he has to be better off in that department than last year. He would have been destroyed at the combine, like Andre Smith.

It is pretty nice to have a brand new player be described as a first round prospect, though. I'm not sure what I think of Rutgers' offensive line. On paper, they look great, but everything I've read says that they are underperforming. JPP, Selvie, and Marshall will really test them, though. Pitt shut our d-line down, but WVU really struggled with them.

[Jupiter Bull]

Common ground. Kiper's an idiot. He makes long shot stabs to look like a genius if one pans out...and no else calls it. He's passed on plenty of proven talent.

That said, JPP is a high potential player, but gobulls32 is right. He's got limited big game experience, and is raw. I'd love to see him play another year and dominate while improving on his skills. May even want to bulk a bit in the off season.

Maybe he can help draw recruits. Some say Giddins came largely due to Selvie. Maybe JPP can draw as well.

[Sandro]

I agree with gobulls32 that Mel Kiper is a total idiot. That guy has been wrong so many times, but I hope he is right about JPP. I hope that JPP and Selive just dominate the game on Thursday because if we can get pressure up front it will be good night for us.

GO BULLS !!!

[gobulls32]

He's good no doubt. But that's some pretty high praise with only a half a dozen games under his belt.
Has nothing to do with his rating of Jason, but Mel Kiper is an idiot.

[Ken]

Let's hope he stays around.

[Turd Ferguson]

This is good...for both him and USF.