Bolden, Rambo are Miami Hurricanes’ best bets to extend NFL Draft streak that began in 1975
The 2022 NFL Draft is taking place in Bubba Bolden’s hometown.
But the former Miami Hurricanes starting safety and before that USC Trojan and first-team Parade All-American will bypass the Las Vegas glitz to be with friends and family when the draft begins with the first round at 8 p.m. Thursday — televised from a specially built “Draft Theater” adjacent to Caesars Forum.
Bolden will have a bigger party Saturday, the third and final day of the draft that encompasses the fourth-through-seventh rounds. By then, he said he’s confident he will be drafted and on his way to the career he has worked for nearly his entire life.
Former Hurricanes star receiver Charleston Rambo, who will watch with family in Dallas, said he’s just as confident, ready to “make phenomenal plays for whoever picks me.’’
But judging by mock drafts and NFL Draft analysts, whether they will get drafted at all is in question.
According to the most prominent so-called experts, Bolden and Rambo are the only two Hurricanes projected to be drafted — but by no means sure things. Neither is projected by most analysts to go sooner than the sixth round.
The others, such as former star quarterback D’Eriq King, UM record-breaking receiver Mike Harley Jr., defensive end/outside linebacker Zach McCloud, defensive end Deandre Johnson, running back Cam’Ron Harris, defensive tackle Jon Ford, safety Amari Carter and offensive linemen Jarrid Williams and Navaughn Donaldson are not included in draft projections by the high-profile analysts.
The Hurricanes have had at least one player drafted since 1975, and both Bolden and Rambo said they’re confident the streak will continue.
Bubba Bolden
“I don’t worry about none of that,’’ Bolden, 22, told the Miami Herald this week about mock drafts. “I know I’m going to get drafted and we’re all going to get picked up. You already know Miami Hurricanes are the best in the League. We don’t worry about none of those little blogs. You talk to the coaches, the big dogs — they’re the ones making the decisions.”
Bolden is a big, strong, hard-hitting safety who measured at 6-2 and 209 pounds at the NFL Pro Scouting Combine after a 2021 season cut short by surgery after seven games to repair a torn labrum in his left shoulder. He finished with 42 tackles, 3.5 tackles for loss, a sack, two pass breakups and a quarterback hurry and was criticized by analysts for taking bad angles while pursuing ball carriers.
In 2020, Bolden had a super season as a semifinalist for the Jim Thorpe Award that honors the nation’s top defensive back. He started nine of his 11 games and had a team-best 74 tackles, 6.5 tackles for loss, one sack, one interception and team-high four forced fumbles. His success came despite a 2019 season-ending, surgery-requiring ankle injury on Nov. 2 during an awkward chest-bump celebration after his first UM interception.
Bolden is projected by ESPN’s Jordan Reid to go in the seventh round (239th overall) to the Indianapolis Colts. He’s ignoring the talk. His ran an impressive 4.47-second 40-yard dash in Indianapolis at the NFL Scouting Combine.
“I’m 100 percent healthy now,’’ he said. “I feel good, ready to go.’’
He said he’s thankful for his time at UM and called it “a great experience.’’
“They gave me a second opportunity to play there and it was life-changing,’’ Bolden said. “Blessed to have been there.”
Charleston Rambo
Rambo, 22, transferred from Oklahoma before the 2021 season and broke Miami’s single-season records for receiving yards and receptions in UM’s final regular-season game against Duke. He finished 2021 with 79 catches for 1,172 yards and seven touchdown in 12 games, a 97.7-yard average. The records eclipsed Allen Hurn’s 1,162 yards in 2013 and Leonard Hankerson’s 72 catches in 2010.
At Oklahoma, Rambo starred in 2019 with 43 catches for 743 yards and five touchdown receptions and played in the College Football Playoff in 2019 and 2020. His production was down in 2020 with the Sooners (312 receiving yards and three touchdowns on 25 catches). ESPN’s Matt Miller has Rambo being drafted by the L.A. Chargers 260th overall in the seventh round — two spots from the final NFL pick, while ESPN’s Jordan Reid has him No. 251 to the Kansas City Chiefs. NFL.com’s Chad Reuter has Rambo going 227th — early in the seventh round — to the Las Vegas Raiders.
Rambo measured 6-1 and a light 177 pounds at the Combine. His 40 time of 4.57, considered slow for a receiver, hurt his draft stock. At UM’s Pro Day, he ran in the low 4.5s. He told the Herald this week that he’s up to 186 pounds and will prove to whatever team that picks him that he will make a positive impact.
“Regardless of what my 40 was I’m going to beat you deep,’’ he said. “I’ll still take a slant or curl to the crib on you. Whoever gets me, you’re all going to see Rambo play for real.”
Rambo, from Cedar Hill, Texas, said he will be at “a little get-together” with his family and friends in Dallas at “an Airbnb with some scenery and space.”
“I’m feeling great,’’ Rambo said. “I’m not stressed about anything. I’m putting it in God’s hands. Based on my seasons at Miami and Oklahoma, whatever NFL team picks me will get someone who makes phenomenal plays and boosts the offense.’’
Harley, others
As for the others, such as Rambo and Bolden, they will be waiting and hoping. If they don’t get drafted, chances are most, if not all, will join teams as undrafted free agents — or at least get tryouts.
Harley, who shares an apartment with Bolden in Coral Gables, is UM’s record-holder for single-game receptions (13) and career receptions (182). He has interviewed with several NFL teams and will be with friends and family at his third grade teacher’s house in Fort Lauderdale to watch all seven rounds, his mother, Timico Slaughter said.
“It’s been a long time coming,’’ Mike’s mom said. “This is just another chapter. I know whatever team gets him is going to get a great person and great player. He’ll get somewhere he’s very appreciated and valued.”
This story was originally published April 27, 2022 at 8:00 AM.
