USF’s Cliett And Reiter Taken In NFL Draft

courtesy of USF Athletics

Linebacker and center move Bulls’ Draft total to 25 since 2001

TAMPA, FLA.– The USF football program saw its total of NFL Draft picks rise to 25 on Saturday as linebacker Reshard Cliett (Thomasville, Ga.) and center Austin Reiter (Bradenton) were taken on day three of the 2015 Draft.

Both Cliett and Reiter had outstanding outings at USF’s Pro Day in March and both have earned their USF degrees. They are the Bulls’ 24^th and 25^th NFL Draft picks since 2001. USF’s football program is entering its 19^th season.

Cliett was selected in the sixth round by the Houston Texans. He becomes the fifth USF linebacker taken in the NFL Draft joining such standouts as Kawika Mitchell (2003, Chiefs), Stephen Nicholas (2007, Falcons), Tyrone McKenzie (2009, Patriots), Jacquian Williams (2011, Giants) and Sam Barrington (2013, Packers). Mitchell, the first Bull linebacker drafted, and Williams both won Super Bowl titles with the Giants.

Reiter was selected in the seventh round by the Washington Redskins. He became just the second USF offensive lineman drafted in the 18-year history of the program and the first since Kenyatta Jones was selected in the fourth round by the New England Patriots in 2001. Jones went on to win a Super Bowl with the Patriots in 2002.

Cliett was a team captain last year as he led USF and ranked fifth in the American Athletic Conference with a career-best six sacks. He finished second on the team with 7.5 tackles for loss, posting at least one in seven games, and logged 38 tackles (30 solo). Cliett posted 139 tackles, 18 tackles for loss and nine sacks on his career, playing in 47 games and starting 27. He graduated in December (2014) with a degree in interdisciplinary social sciences.

Reiter was a two-time Rimington Award candidate for the Bulls who played in 46 career games and started 36 straight. He was named to the American Athletic Conference third team by Phil Steele after starting all 12 games at center in 2014, missing just one snap, and helping lead Marlon Mack to just the fourth 1,000-yard rushing season in school history and a school and conference record 275 yards vs. Western Carolina (8/30). He earned a reputation as an “Iron Man” playing nearly every down the last three seasons. Reiter earned his degree in communications in 2013.

USF returns 13 starters (5 offense, 7 defense and 1 specialist) for Taggart’s third season at the helm. The Bulls will return their top five tacklers (9 the top 12 overall) and players that accounted for 73 percent of the team’s tackles in 2014. USF returns 100 percent of its rushing yardage from 2014, including 1,000-yard rusher Marlon Mack, and 50 percent of its receptions and receiving yards.

The USF Football program completed its 18^th season and 15^th at the FBS level. The Bulls have made six bowl appearances, including every season between 2005-10, and have four bowl game victories. USF has produced 14 All-America selections, 23 NFL Draft picks and reached the No. 2 ranking in the Associated Press Poll in 2007.

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