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Los Angeles football nostalgia brings back 1981 NFL Draft memories
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- Los Angeles football nostalgia brings back 1981 NFL Draft memories
The death of UCLA football legend and Pro Football Hall of Famer Kenny Easley last week, at the age of 66, brought back a flood of Los Angeles college football memories. Easley and USC counterpart Ronnie Lott were two of the greatest safeties ever to play the game in both college and the pros. Los Angeles had both men playing at the same time from 1977 through 1980. They were both top-eight picks in the 1981 NFL draft.
The death of Easley, which Ronnie Lott reacted to by saying Easley "was the best to ever do it," offers reason to recall the absolutely loaded 1981 NFL draft, a draft which delivered on its promise and potential.
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Big California presence
The 1981 NFL draft was a gold rush for the California schools, especially Los Angeles. There were five players selected from UCLA and USC in the top 15 that year. Seven California players went in the top 20, with Cal and Stanford each having a selection.
USC had three top-15 picks in 1981 NFL draft
USC had a stacked roster that season , placing three highly talented players in the top 15 of the 1981 NFL draft: Ronnie Lott went No. 8 to the San Francisco 49ers . Keith Van Horne, an offensive lineman, went at 11 to the Chicago Bears . Dennis Smith, another really good safety from USC, went at 15 to the Denver Broncos .
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Elite Los Angeles college football talent
UCLA didn't have as many top-15 picks as USC did in 1981, but the Bruins had two players selected in the first five picks. Kenny Easley was one. Freeman McNeil was the other.
Let's look more at each of the five highly-touted players from both UCLA and USC to hear their names early in the 1981 NFL draft.
Freeman McNeil
The highest drafted player from this class was Freeman McNeil. He was dominant at UCLA, putting up back-to-back 1,000-yard rushing seasons to finish his career as a Bruin. His success at UCLA sparked a high draft grade, and he became one of the top prospects heading into the draft.
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UCLA Wire recalled the selection:
"At No. 3, the New York Jets took Freeman McNeil, the superb running back who had a very strong NFL career with the Jets. For several seasons, McNeil was one of the best running backs in the NFL. He helped the Jets make the playoffs multiple times."
McNeil became a Pro Bowler. Notably, of the top eight picks in the 1981 NFL draft, seven of them -- including both UCLA players and Ronnie Lott at No. 8 -- became Pro Bowlers and had legitimately strong careers. Lott, Easley, and a guy you might have heard of -- Lawrence Taylor (No. 2 to the New York Giants in that draft) -- became Hall of Famers. This draft really delivered the goods.
Kenny Easley
UCLA had a top running back in college football in 1981, but they had a safety that was even better. Kenny Easley was drafted right after McNeil landed in Seattle . Kenny Easley, during his time at UCLA, broke many records. He was great from the minute he set foot on campus. He set a school record with 93 tackles in 1977 and led the Pac-8 with six interceptions in his freshman season. He still has the school record for interceptions in his career for the Bruins with 19. His success did not just end at UCLA, as he went on to have a great career in Seattle.
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Here are UCLA Wire's thoughts on Easley:
"At No. 4, the Seattle Seahawks picked Kenny Easley, one of the greatest safeties to ever play the game."Easley was so great that he made the Pro Football Hall of Fame even though his career lasted only seven seasons and was cut short by injury. Easley stuffed 32 interceptions into his seven seasons. He was a ferocious tackler in run support who helped coach Chuck Knox led the Seahawks to the AFC Championship Game in the 1983 NFL season. The Seahawks were just five years old as a franchise when they drafted Easley. They quickly became one of the best teams in the NFL thanks to their new UCLA safety."
Ronnie Lott
Ronnie Lott was the first USC Trojan to hear his name called. Out of the Los Angeles football draft class, he had the best career. Prior to his successful career in San Francisco , he was a consensus All-American safety in 1980 at USC, the year in which he led college football with 8 interceptions.
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Here are Trojans Wire's thoughts on the NFL Hall of Famer:
"Ronnie Lott, the first USC player taken in the 1981 NFL draft, is a Hall of Famer and an icon. He is the undisputed star of USC's 1981 NFL draft class." This is despite the fact that other great NFL players came from that same USC draft class.
Keith Van Horne
Keith Van Horne achieved a lot at USC before having a successful NFL career with the Chicago Bears. Van Horne was a national champion at USC in 1978, a two-time All-Pac-10 selection in 1979 and 1980, and a consensus All-American in 1980. He continued that success with the Chicago Bears right out of the gate, being named a part of the all-rookie team. He won a Super Bowl in 1985 as a key contributor. He finished his career as a member of the 100 Greatest Bears of all time.
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Dennis Smith
Dennis Smith was another Trojan who was a member of the national championship team in 1978. He also received many awards during his tenure at USC, including two-time First-Team All-Pac-10 in 1979 and 1980. His success at USC landed him the No. 15 pick in the 1981 NFL draft.
Here are more Trojans Wire thoughts on the former players who were part of an elite NFL draft class in USC history:
"Lott went at No. 8 to the San Francisco 49ers. Then Keith Van Horne, an offensive lineman, went at No. 11 to the Chicago Bears. Dennis Smith, a defensive back, went at No. 15 to the Denver Broncos. All three eventually played in the big game. Lott reached and won the Super Bowl in his rookie season, and came back three more times. Van Horne made the Super Bowl in the 1985 season. Smith made the Super Bowl the next season, in SB XXI against the New York Giants. Smith made more appearances the next few years with John Elway leading Denver to the big stage three times in a four-season span. Lott, Van Horne, and Smith all played at least 13 seasons in the NFL. Lott is a Hall of Famer, while Smith made six Pro Bowl teams and was a first-team All-Pro twice."
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More 1981 NFL draft notes
UCLA has not had another NFL draft since 1981 in which it produced two top-five picks.
The 1981 NFL draft remains the only time USC not only produced three top-15 picks, but three top-15 picks who all played in the Super Bowl.
Instant impact
How impactful were the UCLA and USC top-eight picks from the 1981 NFL draft? Within three seasons, all three players -- Freeman McNeil (No. 3), Kenny Easley (No. 4), and Ronnie Lott (No. 8) -- had helped their teams reach the conference championship game. Lott went one step better, leading the 49ers to their first Super Bowl championship in his NFL rookie season.
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Legendary top eight picks
How great were the top eight picks in the 1981 NFL draft, minus the one bust from the group, Rich Campbell of Cal (No. 6 to the Green Bay Packers )?
As we noted, those seven top picks all made the Pro Bowl. Four made conference championship games. Two won the Super Bowl. Three made the Hall of Fame.
This article originally appeared on Trojans Wire: UCLA and USC football dominated first round of 1981 NFL draft
