Toward the end of February 2004, the entire football world descended on the University of Miami for the Hurricanes’ pro day. Some estimate there were several hundred people in attendance, including coaches, executives, and scouts from every organization, it seemed. When Jonathan Vilma arrived, he couldn’t find parking—for his own showcase. “I was like three hours early, too,” he says.
Pundits had already started speculating that as many as six Hurricanes could go in the first round of the 2004 NFL draft. Not only would six of them go in the first round—setting an NFL record—they would all go in the first 21 picks.