Last season’s Syracuse football team seems to have a knack for snapping streaks.

In the fall, the Orangemen’s run of 15 straight seasons with a winning record came to a crashing halt, as SU went 4-8.

With the NFL Draft beginning tomorrow at noon with rounds one through three and continuing Sunday at 11 a.m. with rounds four to seven, Syracuse’s five-year stretch of sending one player to the first round appears doomed as well. Syracuse’s best hope for a first-round selection is linebacker Clifton Smith, but he’s projected to be a third- or fourth-round pick.

Wide receiver David Tyree, defensive back Will Hunter and fullback Chris Davis also could get drafted.

Starting in 1998 — when defensive backs Tebucky Jones and Donovin Darius were picked at No. 22 by the New England Patriots and No. 25 Jacksonville Jaguars, respectively — NFL teams have plucked an SU player in the first round. Last year, the Indianapolis Colts drafted defensive end Dwight Freeney with the 11th selection.

Instead of that torch being passed this weekend, it’ll be extinguished. On a list ranking the top 75 prospects, ESPN.com left out Smith, and the former SU linebacker was also absent from draft guru Mel Kiper Jr.’s top 100.

‘It did mean something to me before, but you have no control over that,” Smith said of getting drafted in the first round. ‘The only thing you have control over is once you get there, what you’re going to do.’

One obstacle keeping Syracuse from brandishing a first-rounder is Smith’s position. Traditionally, glamour positions like quarterback and defensive back dominate the first round.

Only truly elite inside linebackers are chosen in the first round. Even Ray Lewis, widely regarded as the best middle linebacker in football, was picked at No. 26.

‘Clifton plays a position that doesn’t get drafted very high,’ said Steven Hayes, Smith’s agent. ‘Maybe Clifton doesn’t get drafted as high, but he’ll be looked upon to contribute right away like a first-round pick would.’

Coming into the season, Smith was considered a possible first-rounder. But a torn left pectoral muscle in 2001 inhibited his performance. Usually a vicious tackler, Smith was weakened and had trouble wrapping up opposing rushers.

‘I wasn’t fully recovered from that,’ Smith said. ‘Right now, I’m healthy, and thank God for that. But prior to that, I wasn’t healthy. So people just viewed that as me not producing. Now, I feel that I’m healthy and definitely in a good situation.’

During offseason workout showcases, injuries struck Smith again. While running the 40-yard dash at the NFL Combine in February, he strained his hamstring, leading to a poor performance. He clocked 4.88 seconds in the 40, well below average.

During an individual workout at Syracuse, Smith helped soothe the disappointment. In front of 13 NFL teams, Smith impressed by running the 40 in 4.65 seconds.

“I got the opportunity to work out up at school, which was big,” Smith said. “The only difference is, as many people that came to the Combine didn’t come to the workouts. But I definitely had a good workout back up here. Me hurting my hamstring didn’t really affect me.”

After the workout, Smith said coaches from the New Orleans Saints, Green Bay Packers, Seattle Seahawks and Philadelphia Eagles praised him. The Houston Texans and New York Jets have also expressed interest in Smith.

‘There are a number of teams excited about Clifton Smith,’ Hayes said. ‘Regardless of where he is picked, he will be expected to contribute right away.’

If it was up to Smith, he’d hear his name called by Green Bay or Philadelphia. The mystique of Lambeau Field appeals to Smith, and he also enjoyed the idea of the Packers’ public ownership.

Philadelphia is the closest NFL city to Delaware, where his mom, Nancy Porter, lives. Smith called playing in Philadelphia “ideal.”

So, with the draft approaching, Smith must hardly be able to contain himself, right?

Well, maybe not.

“I’m not really excited,” Smith said. “Definitely, I wanted to get to this point, and I’m looking forward to it. But I’m not really for the day. It’s been so long that you have to wait, so you just take it as it goes.”

Smith is taking a steady approach into the weekend. He understands that in the NFL, it’s not when he’s picked but what he does once he joins a team.

“You can look at (former SU running back) James Mungro,” Smith said. “He wasn’t even drafted (last year). He was a free agent. And now, he’s with the Indianapolis Colts, and he made a real difference there.”

Despite his relaxed posture, Smith eagerly awaits hearing his name this weekend while watching the draft in Delaware with his family.

“It’s gonna feel good,” Smith said. “I know that. I’ll have to wait till Saturday or Sunday to see if gets called.”

Published on April 24, 2003 at 12:00 pm