Matt Zemek
 | UCLA Wire
From 1977 through 1980, Los Angeles college football had the two best safeties in America. Ronnie Lott held it down for USC, while Kenny Easley was a lockdown artist for UCLA football. Rememeber: The LA Coliseum was the home venue for both programs at the time. UCLA didn’t leave for the Rose Bowl until 1982. When Lott and Easley entered the 1981 NFL draft, it was the UCLA Bruin who was picked before the Trojan:
“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. The even better NFL player from the first round of the 1981 NFL draft was the man picked right after McNeil. 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 lead 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.”
Yes, UCLA was so good once upon a time that the Bruins had two players taken in the top four of an NFL draft. Kenny Easley was so good that he was picked four spots before USC’s Ronnie Lott, who went at No. 8 in the 1981 NFL draft to Bill Walsh and the San Francisco 49ers.
Both players became Hall of Famers, but Easley went first in the NFL draft. UCLA had a day back in 1981.