Last May, three Syracuse players had their dreams realized when they were selected in the 2013 NFL Draft.

Justin Pugh was selected in the first round, 19th overall, by the New York Giants. Then in the fourth, Ryan Nassib and Shamarko Thomas were drafted in back-to-back picks. Though each has had varied success in his rookie season, the draft gave the safest passage to a professional roster.

And now with the Texas Bowl in Syracuse’s sights, a handful of NFL hopefuls could look to travel the same path.

Here’s a look at the Syracuse (6-6, 4-4 Atlantic Coast) players who will or may find themselves in the NFL Draft pool this spring, and how SU’s date with Minnesota (8-4, 4-4 Big Ten) — Friday at 6 p.m. at Reliant Stadium — could affect their stocks.

Jerome Smith — RB, Jr., 6-0, 226

Smith could have opted to stay at Syracuse one more year, but announced last week that he will forgo his senior season and enter the draft.

As of now, ESPN Scouts Inc. isn’t particularly high on Smith. The versatile back — who leads SU with 11 touchdowns and 840 yards in 2013 — isn’t ranked in ESPN’s top 230 players and is currently the 23rd best at the position. Smith also has a scout rating of 30, which, according to ESPN’s grading scale, is for players “teams like something about, but certainly do not have the full package in terms of NFL talent.”

CBS Sports’ evaluation of Smith denotes that he would benefit from playing his final collegiate season. In CBS’ position rankings, he is rated the 22nd best back in 2014, but the seventh in 2015.

But with an opportunity against a Big Ten opponent on ESPN, Smith’s stock is certainly subject to change. In the New Era Pinstripe Bowl against West Virginia last December, Smith carried the ball 29 times and garnered 152 yards.

Prince-Tyson Gulley is returning from an ankle injury, and Smith is likely to get the bulk of SU’s carries. Running backs have won the MVP award in SU’s last two bowl games, and a big day is within Smith’s reach.

“I’ve got that in the back of my mind,” Smith said. “I’ve heard that the last two bowl games meant MVPs for running backs. So it’s on the schedule.”

Sean Hickey — OT, Jr., 6-5, 291

When ESPN draft analyst Todd McShay talked to reporters in a teleconference Dec. 19, he briefly discussed how offensive linemen are evaluated.

“You really have to look at two things with these guys,” McShay said. “Size, and how well the run game is doing when they’re on the field.”

Based on McShay’s criteria, Hickey is the full package. The junior — who said he will make his decision regarding the draft after the Texas Bowl — has the size, and has helped SU’s run game excel mightily over the last two seasons.

Yet Hickey has gone from one of Syracuse’s top NFL prospects at the beginning of the season to a middle-of-the-pack lineman struggling to differentiate himself. ESPN has him ranked as the 17th best offensive tackle with, like Smith, a Scout grade of 30.

Since he hasn’t declared for the draft, CBS hasn’t ranked him for 2014, but says he would be the fifth best offensive tackle in the Class of 2015. And with a lower-body injury at the end of the regular season, and a history of knee injury stretching back to high school, it seems that another year at SU is in his best interest.

Jay Bromley — DT, Sr., 6-4, 285

Bromley, now in his fourth season at SU, has played in 48 games and the Texas Bowl will be his last. His final season has been his finest with 38 total tackles, 12.5 tackles for loss and nine sacks.

Bromley is a centerpiece of Syracuse’s stout defensive front and has had an impressive senior campaign, but with a class filled with interior defensive linemen he is currently a low-level draft prospect.

According to ESPN, Bromley is the 29th best defensive tackle and not ranked in Scout Inc.’s top 230 players. He has a Scout grade of 30.

CBS is higher on Bromley, ranking him 18th at his position. But even with a strong performance in the Texas Bowl, it seems that Bromley will likely have to test post-draft free agency when his eligibility runs out.

Marquis Spruill — LB, Sr., 6-1, 224

Spruill leads an SU linebacking corps that hasn’t allowed a 100-yard rusher this season, and most notably held Heisman candidate Andre Williams to 29 yards on Nov. 30.

On the season, Spruill has 62 total tackles — second on the team behind Durell Eskridge — along with 4.5 sacks and 13.5 tackles for loss.

But ESPN and CBS aren’t projecting the inside linebacker to be selected in the upcoming draft. ESPN has him as the No. 30 inside linebacker with a Scout grade of 30, and CBS has him ranked 23rd. In last year’s draft, only 11 players listed as inside linebackers were selected, and only five after the second round.

When asked about a handful of top-tier inside linebackers, McShay said NFL teams are interested in speed and how well they defend the run. CBS lists Spruill’s 40-yard dash time at 4.64, tied for second among draft-eligible inside linebackers. And with Minnesota’s skilled ground game led by 1,000-yard rusher David Cobb, Spruill will have one more chance to head SU’s staunch front seven.

But trends show that NFL teams aren’t selecting inside linebackers in late rounds and Spruill doesn’t fit the mold of a first- or second-round selection.

Macky MacPherson — C, Sr., 6-2, 290

Like Hickey, MacPherson’s pedigree hinges on the success of the Syracuse rushing attack.

Right now, neither ESPN nor CBS see him being drafted. He’s ranked the 23rd best center by ESPN with a Scout grade of 30, and the 18th by CBS, and only four centers were drafted in the entire 2013 draft.

But a strong showing by SU’s running game in the Texas Bowl coupled with a strong showing by MacPherson at the NFL Combine this spring could go a long way. MacPherson said that after he returns from Houston he’ll be in Syracuse, spending time with his family and training.

“I’ll be training there and stick with what I know how to do,” MacPherson said.

And when he was asked if he will continue to train with Syracuse assistant Will Hicks, who works with players in the weight room, MacPherson said, “Oh yeah, absolutely. He’s the best.”

Published on December 26, 2013 at 8:47 pm

Contact Jesse: jcdoug01@syr.edu | @dougherty_jesse