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A History of Buffalo Bulls Selected in the NFL Draft
4/21/2026 11:31:00 AM | Football
Beginning Thursday night, former college football players from around the country will hear their names called and their dreams of playing the game they love at the highest level fulfilled as the 2026 NFL Draft will get underway in Pittsburgh. Among the hopefuls will be All-American linebacker Red Murdock. If he does indeed get drafted, he will be added to a list of Bulls selected that dates back over 70 years.
Here is a look back at the history of UB Bulls taken in the NFL Draft.
Les Molnar was the first UB player taken in the NFL Draft when he was selected in 1952. Held at the Hotel Statler in New York City, Molnar, an offensive tackle, was selected by the New York Yankees with the 206th overall pick. Shortly after the draft, the team relocated to Dallas and was renamed the Texans. Despite being drafted, Molnar did not make the team.
In 1958, Frank Woidzik became the second UB player drafted when he was selected by the Los Angeles Rams with the 44th overall pick. However, the former UB offensive tackle was cut before the season started.
The following year, Lou Reale, a center for the Bulls, was taken in the 25th round by the New York Giants. Cut by the Giants, Reale enlisted in the United States Army.
In 1964, Gerry Philbin was selected in the third round by both the Detroit Lions in the NFL Draft and the New York Jets in the AFL Draft. The standout defensive tackle chose New York and would go on to have a stellar career with the Jets.
In nine seasons with the Jets, Philbin was a two-time AFL All-Star and two-time first-team All-AFL selection. He helped New York win the AFL Championship in 1968 and, following the NFL merger, was a key component of the Jets Super Bowl III Championship team. Philbin was a member of the All-Time All-AFL Team and inducted into the Jets Ring of Honor. He finished his NFL career with the Philadelphia Eagles in 1973.
Thirty three years would pass before the next UB player's name would be announced at the NFL Draft. Ed Ellis brought an end to the streak in 1997 when he was taken in the fourth round (125th) by the New England Patriots. An offensive tackle, Ellis would have a productive NFL career. He played 54 career games and made seven starts over eight seasons with the Patriots (1997-99), Redskins (2000), Chargers (2001-03) and Giants (2004).
Drew Haddad would be the first player from the Bulls' modern FBS era selected when he was taken by the Buffalo Bills in the seventh round of the 2000 NFL Draft. The speedy receiver spent that season on the Bills practice squad before signing with the Colts in 2001. After being active for the first three games of the 2001 campaign, injuries limited the rest of his stay in Indianapolis. He did register one catch for 11 yards in 2002. Haddad signed with the Bills in 2004 and, in 2005, he was signed to the Chargers practice squad.
2008 was a historic year for UB football as two players were picked in the same draft for the first and only time in school history. Defensive end Trevor Scott was taken by the Oakland Raiders in the sixth round and center Jamey Richard was picked by the Indianapolis Colts in the seventh round.
Scott, who began his career at UB as a tight end before making the move to defensive end, made an immediate impact with the Raiders. In his four seasons in Oakland, Scott played in 58 games, made 16 starts and had 13.5 sacks, including a career-best seven sacks in 2009. Scott spent 2012 with New England, 2013 with Tampa Bay and 2014 with Chicago.
Richard, an All-MAC center for the Bulls, played five seasons for the Colts. His most productive season was in 2008, when as a rookie, he replaced All-Pro center Jeff Saturday and started seven games that season. He would go on to be named to the NFL All-Rookie Team. He was a member of the Colts 2009 AFC Championship team. He signed with the Patriots in 2012, but was placed on injured reserve after suffering an injury in the preseason.
James Starks was selected by the Green Bay Packers in the sixth round of the 2010 NFL Draft and spent his entire seven-year career with the team. Injuries forced the former UB running back to miss much of his rookie season. However, upon making his NFL debut on December 5, 2010, he helped lead the Packers on a magical run that ended with a Super Bowl title. In the 2010 NFC Wild Card game against the Philadelphia Eagles, Starks rushed for 123 yards, breaking the franchise's rookie post-season record for rushing yards in a single game. He would score his first career touchdown against the Chicago Bears in the NFC Championship Game the following week. Starks was the Packers' starting running back in Super Bowl XLV and helped lead the storied franchise to a win over the Pittsburgh Steelers and their fourth Lombardi Trophy.
Starks would play 76 games and make 13 starts for the Packers over his career. Despite being slowed by injuries, the Niagara Falls native would tally 2,506 rushing yards and nine touchdowns over is career. He added 1,017 receiving yards and six more scores.
UB hosts a Pro Day every year, giving its players an opportunity to work out in front of numerous NFL scouts. No player took advantage of his Pro Day more than cornerback Josh Thomas. After posting eye-popping numbers in front of the scouts, Thomas was taken in the fifth round of the 2011 NFL Draft by the Dallas Cowboys – a dream come true for the Texas native. Though waived by the Cowboys, he was quickly signed by the Carolina Panthers and would go on to play six seasons in the NFL. Thomas' career would also include stops in Seattle, New York (Jets), Detroit, Minnesota and Indianapolis. He would finish his career by playing two seasons with the team that originally drafted him, the Cowboys. His most productive seasons came in the Carolina as he started four games in 2012 and six games in 2013.
Defensive end Steven Means was selected by the Tampa Buccaneers in the fifth round of the 2013 NFL Draft. His incredible work ethic kept the Buffalo native in the league for 10 years and even helped him earn a Super Bowl ring. After seeing limited action in Tampa over his first two seasons, he was waived. He was picked up by the Ravens and spent two seasons in Baltimore, primarily on the team's practice squad.
Means signed in Philadelphia in 2015, following a brief stop in Houston, and it was there that his career took off. Means played in 14 games for the Eagles over the 2016 and 2017 season and had a pair of sacks. In 2017, he helped lead Philadelphia to its first Super Bowl title in franchise history.
In 2018, Means signed a free agent contract with the Atlanta Falcons where he spent four seasons. In 2020, he earned the Ed Block Courage Award and was the franchise's nominee for the Walter Payton Man of the Year Award.
In 2014, the University at Buffalo football program was thrust on to the national stage and the literal stage as Khalil Mack was selected fifth overall by the Raiders and walked across the stage of Radio City Music Hall to give NFL commissioner Roger Goodell his ceremonial hug. Mack, the highest defensive player from the Mid-American Conference ever selected, has developed into one of the most feared defenders in the NFL.
Mack has spent his 12-year career with the Raiders (2014-17), Bears (2018-21) and Los Angeles Chargers (2022-present). He has played in nine Pro Bowls and was the 2016 NFL Defensive Player of the Year. He was named first-team All-Pro in 2015, 2016 and 2018 and second-team All-Pro in 2020. In 2015 he made NFL history, by becoming the first player ever named first-team All-Pro at two different position, defensive end and linebacker, in the same season. The durable Mack has started 177 games over his career, totaling 662 tackles, 148 tackles for loss and 113 sacks. Not bad for a player who's only FBS offer was from UB.
Though he played defensive tackle at UB, Kristjan Sokoli was selected by the Seattle Seahawks as an offensive guard in the sixth round of the 2015 NFL Draft. Sokoli's career lasted four seasons between the Seahawks (2015), Colts (2016), Saints (2017) and Giants (2017-18). He became the first Albanian-born player to play in a NFL game.
Mason Schreck was selected in the seventh round by the Cincinnati Bengals in the 2017 NFL Draft. The former UB tight end spent five seasons with the Bengals before signing with the Texans for the 2022 campaign.
Malcolm Koonce was the most recent UB player selected in the NFL Draft when he was chosen in the third round by the Raiders in 2021. The defensive end has spent five seasons in Las Vegas, totaling 85 tackles, 14.5 sacks and four forced fumbles. In a Christmas Day game against the Chiefs in 2023, Koonce harassed Kansas City quarterback Patrick Mahomes, finishing with a career-high eight pressures and three sacks.
The Bulls will look to add to their list of players drafted when the 2026 NFL Draft kicks off on Thursday night.
Here is a look back at the history of UB Bulls taken in the NFL Draft.
Les Molnar was the first UB player taken in the NFL Draft when he was selected in 1952. Held at the Hotel Statler in New York City, Molnar, an offensive tackle, was selected by the New York Yankees with the 206th overall pick. Shortly after the draft, the team relocated to Dallas and was renamed the Texans. Despite being drafted, Molnar did not make the team.
In 1958, Frank Woidzik became the second UB player drafted when he was selected by the Los Angeles Rams with the 44th overall pick. However, the former UB offensive tackle was cut before the season started.
The following year, Lou Reale, a center for the Bulls, was taken in the 25th round by the New York Giants. Cut by the Giants, Reale enlisted in the United States Army.
In 1964, Gerry Philbin was selected in the third round by both the Detroit Lions in the NFL Draft and the New York Jets in the AFL Draft. The standout defensive tackle chose New York and would go on to have a stellar career with the Jets.
In nine seasons with the Jets, Philbin was a two-time AFL All-Star and two-time first-team All-AFL selection. He helped New York win the AFL Championship in 1968 and, following the NFL merger, was a key component of the Jets Super Bowl III Championship team. Philbin was a member of the All-Time All-AFL Team and inducted into the Jets Ring of Honor. He finished his NFL career with the Philadelphia Eagles in 1973.
Thirty three years would pass before the next UB player's name would be announced at the NFL Draft. Ed Ellis brought an end to the streak in 1997 when he was taken in the fourth round (125th) by the New England Patriots. An offensive tackle, Ellis would have a productive NFL career. He played 54 career games and made seven starts over eight seasons with the Patriots (1997-99), Redskins (2000), Chargers (2001-03) and Giants (2004).
Drew Haddad would be the first player from the Bulls' modern FBS era selected when he was taken by the Buffalo Bills in the seventh round of the 2000 NFL Draft. The speedy receiver spent that season on the Bills practice squad before signing with the Colts in 2001. After being active for the first three games of the 2001 campaign, injuries limited the rest of his stay in Indianapolis. He did register one catch for 11 yards in 2002. Haddad signed with the Bills in 2004 and, in 2005, he was signed to the Chargers practice squad.
2008 was a historic year for UB football as two players were picked in the same draft for the first and only time in school history. Defensive end Trevor Scott was taken by the Oakland Raiders in the sixth round and center Jamey Richard was picked by the Indianapolis Colts in the seventh round.
Scott, who began his career at UB as a tight end before making the move to defensive end, made an immediate impact with the Raiders. In his four seasons in Oakland, Scott played in 58 games, made 16 starts and had 13.5 sacks, including a career-best seven sacks in 2009. Scott spent 2012 with New England, 2013 with Tampa Bay and 2014 with Chicago.
Richard, an All-MAC center for the Bulls, played five seasons for the Colts. His most productive season was in 2008, when as a rookie, he replaced All-Pro center Jeff Saturday and started seven games that season. He would go on to be named to the NFL All-Rookie Team. He was a member of the Colts 2009 AFC Championship team. He signed with the Patriots in 2012, but was placed on injured reserve after suffering an injury in the preseason.
James Starks was selected by the Green Bay Packers in the sixth round of the 2010 NFL Draft and spent his entire seven-year career with the team. Injuries forced the former UB running back to miss much of his rookie season. However, upon making his NFL debut on December 5, 2010, he helped lead the Packers on a magical run that ended with a Super Bowl title. In the 2010 NFC Wild Card game against the Philadelphia Eagles, Starks rushed for 123 yards, breaking the franchise's rookie post-season record for rushing yards in a single game. He would score his first career touchdown against the Chicago Bears in the NFC Championship Game the following week. Starks was the Packers' starting running back in Super Bowl XLV and helped lead the storied franchise to a win over the Pittsburgh Steelers and their fourth Lombardi Trophy.
Starks would play 76 games and make 13 starts for the Packers over his career. Despite being slowed by injuries, the Niagara Falls native would tally 2,506 rushing yards and nine touchdowns over is career. He added 1,017 receiving yards and six more scores.
UB hosts a Pro Day every year, giving its players an opportunity to work out in front of numerous NFL scouts. No player took advantage of his Pro Day more than cornerback Josh Thomas. After posting eye-popping numbers in front of the scouts, Thomas was taken in the fifth round of the 2011 NFL Draft by the Dallas Cowboys – a dream come true for the Texas native. Though waived by the Cowboys, he was quickly signed by the Carolina Panthers and would go on to play six seasons in the NFL. Thomas' career would also include stops in Seattle, New York (Jets), Detroit, Minnesota and Indianapolis. He would finish his career by playing two seasons with the team that originally drafted him, the Cowboys. His most productive seasons came in the Carolina as he started four games in 2012 and six games in 2013.
Defensive end Steven Means was selected by the Tampa Buccaneers in the fifth round of the 2013 NFL Draft. His incredible work ethic kept the Buffalo native in the league for 10 years and even helped him earn a Super Bowl ring. After seeing limited action in Tampa over his first two seasons, he was waived. He was picked up by the Ravens and spent two seasons in Baltimore, primarily on the team's practice squad.
Means signed in Philadelphia in 2015, following a brief stop in Houston, and it was there that his career took off. Means played in 14 games for the Eagles over the 2016 and 2017 season and had a pair of sacks. In 2017, he helped lead Philadelphia to its first Super Bowl title in franchise history.
In 2018, Means signed a free agent contract with the Atlanta Falcons where he spent four seasons. In 2020, he earned the Ed Block Courage Award and was the franchise's nominee for the Walter Payton Man of the Year Award.
In 2014, the University at Buffalo football program was thrust on to the national stage and the literal stage as Khalil Mack was selected fifth overall by the Raiders and walked across the stage of Radio City Music Hall to give NFL commissioner Roger Goodell his ceremonial hug. Mack, the highest defensive player from the Mid-American Conference ever selected, has developed into one of the most feared defenders in the NFL.
Mack has spent his 12-year career with the Raiders (2014-17), Bears (2018-21) and Los Angeles Chargers (2022-present). He has played in nine Pro Bowls and was the 2016 NFL Defensive Player of the Year. He was named first-team All-Pro in 2015, 2016 and 2018 and second-team All-Pro in 2020. In 2015 he made NFL history, by becoming the first player ever named first-team All-Pro at two different position, defensive end and linebacker, in the same season. The durable Mack has started 177 games over his career, totaling 662 tackles, 148 tackles for loss and 113 sacks. Not bad for a player who's only FBS offer was from UB.
Though he played defensive tackle at UB, Kristjan Sokoli was selected by the Seattle Seahawks as an offensive guard in the sixth round of the 2015 NFL Draft. Sokoli's career lasted four seasons between the Seahawks (2015), Colts (2016), Saints (2017) and Giants (2017-18). He became the first Albanian-born player to play in a NFL game.
Mason Schreck was selected in the seventh round by the Cincinnati Bengals in the 2017 NFL Draft. The former UB tight end spent five seasons with the Bengals before signing with the Texans for the 2022 campaign.
Malcolm Koonce was the most recent UB player selected in the NFL Draft when he was chosen in the third round by the Raiders in 2021. The defensive end has spent five seasons in Las Vegas, totaling 85 tackles, 14.5 sacks and four forced fumbles. In a Christmas Day game against the Chiefs in 2023, Koonce harassed Kansas City quarterback Patrick Mahomes, finishing with a career-high eight pressures and three sacks.
The Bulls will look to add to their list of players drafted when the 2026 NFL Draft kicks off on Thursday night.
Players Mentioned
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