Pac-12 has three top-10 picks for 1st time since '99

Normally, come NFL draft time, it is the SEC and Big Ten that have dominated of late.

But during the first round Thursday, the Pac-12 made a name for itself.

Three players were taken in the top-10, the most ever by the conference since 1999.

Known then as the Pac-10, Cincinnati took Oregon quarterback Akili Smith third overall, while Detroit selected USC linebacker Chris Claiborne ninth, and Baltimore picked cornerback Chris McAlister out of Arizona at 10th overall.