National Football League

Jonathan Vilma, Kellen Winslow II reflect on historic 2004 Miami draft class

Published Apr. 28, 2016 2:32 p.m. ET

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Aaron Torres

They say "The U invented swagger" but on draft night 2004, swagger was the last thing on Jonathan Vilma's mind.

The All-American linebacker from the University of Miami knew his name would be called in the first round of that year's draft. Still, when his moment came on April 24, 2004, different emotions immediately surged through his body.

First, there was the excitement of being drafted.

"I'll never forget how proud my mom and dad were," Vilma told FOX Sports Wednesday about his draft-day experience. "I remember their faces so clearly, they were so proud of me."

Then, a twinge of fear, after learning where he was headed.

"That was an exciting time. I was equally excited when the Jets' fans didn't boo me."

Vilma can reflect on the comedy that comes with draft day, but he also reflects on a bit of history: He was part of a group of six Miami players who were selected in the first round, which remains a record from one school that Ohio State has a chance of matching Thursday.

From the 2001 to 2004 drafts, the Hurricanes produced a staggering 19 first-round picks, including Ed Reed, Andre Johnson, Jeremy Shockey and Reggie Wayne.

Still, it's the 2004 class that has withstood the test of time. Vilma was joined by teammates Sean Taylor, Kellen Winslow II, D.J. Williams, Vernon Carey and Vince Wilfork as opening-round picks.

Both Vilma and Winslow were eager to discuss their draft class, and in doing so, showed how much the process has changed.  

For starters, none of the players had a big, grandiose press conference to announce they were leaving, but instead, virtually no "official" announcement at all. Some, like Vilma simply saw their eligibility run out, and others, like Winslow gauged the temperature of the locker room when making their decisions.

"We didn't really know when we were going to leave," Winslow said. "But we were just so good everybody was talking about 'Are you gonna leave? Are you gonna leave?' Guys just knew they were ready."

In another shift from what is common today, Miami players largely took ownership of their own pre-draft workouts, a concept that is blasphemous in 2016. In this day and age players often leave campus the second their bowl games are done, and are whisked off to training facilities in California and Arizona by agents, who handle everything from their training to diet and nutrition.

At Miami, there was no need to. The players -- with the help of legendary strength and conditioning coach Andreu Swasey -- had spent the previous few years pushing each other to the absolute limits on the practice field. They did the same during pre-draft workouts.

"There was no need to go anywhere else," Winslow, who is trying to make an NFL comeback, said. "We were there for each other. We were making each other better."

It was the same with the NFL Combine.

Most of the Hurricanes players chose to largely skip workouts at the Combine, saving them for Miami's Pro Day a few weeks later. That event became a spectacle.

"I just remember it being like Hollywood, like a movie or something," Winslow said. "There were just a lot of guys there, a lot of scouts there. A lot of guys didn't work out at the Combine because we felt like we had to do it at Miami, at home. Like, y'all need to come see us.'"

That swagger continued straight through draft day. Still, it couldn't possibly prepare them for that moment their names were called by then-commissioner Paul Tagliabue. Winslow was the second player selected out of the group from Miami, chosen sixth by Cleveland a pick behind Taylor, who had gone to Washington. Vilma was the third 'Cane selected at 12th overall.

For Vilma, it was all part of a busy weekend, one that included his graduation the following day. The seminal moment of being selected turned sweeter when, after getting a call from Jets' coach Herm Edwards, his phone began to ring again, this time with his former teammates on the other end.

"As soon as one person would get drafted we'd call him up," said Vilma, who watched the draft with his family in Miami. "Then the next person would get drafted, we'd call them up. We just did that the whole way through."

For Ohio State the circumstances will be different because five Buckeyes -- Eli Apple, Joey Bosa, Taylor Decker, Ezekiel Elliott and Darron Lee -- are expected to be in Chicago for the draft.

When asked whether they had any advice for the Ohio State players, Vilma and Winslow both delivered the same message: Have fun.

"Man, just enjoy the process, and just have fun," Winslow said. "It's just football, just play the game that you love to play."

Those Buckeyes also have to remember Thursday is a time they will share the rest of their lives.

At least that's been the case at UM.

"I'm literally friends for life with those guys," Vilma said. "And you know, when I say 'bonding experience' you have something that no one can really relate to, no one can really understand, no one knows what it was to go through that process like we did.

"We can always reminisce because we went through it and we lived it, and we all lived it together, and we all lived it together as friends for what, 12 years. It's like we never left UM when we get together."

Aaron Torres covers college football for FOXSports.com. Follow him on Twitter @Aaron_Torres or Facebook. E-mail him at ATorres00@gmail.com.

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