The ones I remember immediately are Leroy Harris and Don Bessilieu from the late '70s. That was my top era for following the draft...late '70s through early '80s. I knew every player that went off the board even though it was 12 rounds.
In college at USC I would take large manila folders and open them up lengthwise, while writing down every pick carefully in magic marker. This was all 12 rounds. Then I'd tape the folders to our living room wall smack behind the television...2 rows of 6 rounds apiece. We had 4 guys and all sportsminded every year so nobody complained. For the remaining month or so of spring semester we'd sit on the couch and often debate each round and who we thought aced the picks and who screwed up. I really wish I had taken pictures of those folders but like so many things we took it for granted. Not exactly digital in those days.
In 1977 running backs could change the outcomes of a game. We had lost Csonka and Kiick years earlier, and Morris was at the end. Norm Bulaich and Don Nottingham were okay in stretches but we desperately needed a young fullback. Leroy Harris looked great in clips, despite the small school and short stature. I was elated that we took him.
Harris didn't have a long career but was fantastic that rookie season, especially in a home Monday Night win over the nemesis Colts. That was one of the most electrict atmospheres ever for the Orange Bowl. Harris had a long touchdown run down the right sideline in that game that is one of the best runs in franchise history. The city exploded.
Bessilieu had a strange lanky frame. He never looked like a long range every-down player as much as a big hitter and kick blocker. That's what he was known for at Georgia Tech. And he did offer those skills to the Dolphins in quick memorable fashion. But I don't think he did it for long. We seemed to give up on him quickly even though he was a good special teams guy. I was puzzled by that. In this era with expanded roster size he would have stuck around longer. I guess Shula thought he was too much of a liability in coverage.
In college at USC I would take large manila folders and open them up lengthwise, while writing down every pick carefully in magic marker. This was all 12 rounds. Then I'd tape the folders to our living room wall smack behind the television...2 rows of 6 rounds apiece. We had 4 guys and all sportsminded every year so nobody complained. For the remaining month or so of spring semester we'd sit on the couch and often debate each round and who we thought aced the picks and who screwed up. I really wish I had taken pictures of those folders but like so many things we took it for granted. Not exactly digital in those days.
In 1977 running backs could change the outcomes of a game. We had lost Csonka and Kiick years earlier, and Morris was at the end. Norm Bulaich and Don Nottingham were okay in stretches but we desperately needed a young fullback. Leroy Harris looked great in clips, despite the small school and short stature. I was elated that we took him.
Harris didn't have a long career but was fantastic that rookie season, especially in a home Monday Night win over the nemesis Colts. That was one of the most electrict atmospheres ever for the Orange Bowl. Harris had a long touchdown run down the right sideline in that game that is one of the best runs in franchise history. The city exploded.
Bessilieu had a strange lanky frame. He never looked like a long range every-down player as much as a big hitter and kick blocker. That's what he was known for at Georgia Tech. And he did offer those skills to the Dolphins in quick memorable fashion. But I don't think he did it for long. We seemed to give up on him quickly even though he was a good special teams guy. I was puzzled by that. In this era with expanded roster size he would have stuck around longer. I guess Shula thought he was too much of a liability in coverage.