Best New Orleans Saints Draft Choices From FBS Schools: Maryland

Who is the best player the New Orleans Saints ever drafted from the Maryland Terrapins?

From May 1 until the start of the 2016 NFL season on September 11, we’re going to list the best players that the Saints ever drafted from all 128 FBS schools, as of 2015.

Of course, there are a number of schools, including Air Force, Appalachian St., Arizona, Army, Baylor, Boise St., Bowling Green, Buffalo, Central Florida, Central Michigan, East Carolina, FAU, FIU, Hawaii, ULM, Marshall, and South Alabama, in which the Saints have never drafted a player.

Yesterday, we looked at the best player the Saints ever drafted from LSU.

Today, we spotlight the best player the Saints ever drafted from Maryland.

When it comes to selecting the best player the Saints ever drafted from Maryland, the choice is limited to defensive lineman Joe Campbell (1977) and tight end John Tice (1983).

The pick is going to be Tice, a tight end, who played 10 years for the Saints, from 1983-1992.

A native of Bay Shore, New York, Tice was selected by the Saints in the 3rd round of the 1983 NFL Draft.

The 6-foot-5, 242-pound Tice played in all 16 games as a rookie, mostly on special teams, but did catch 7 passes for 33 yards, including a touchdowns.

Tice continued in that role in 1984, catching 6 passes for 55 yards and one touchdown, being used mostly on special teams.

1985-1991 saw Tice used more as a receiver, catching 145 passes for over 1,500 yards and 13 touchdowns, combined.

In 1993, his final year with the Saints, and his final season in the NFL, Tice saw action in 3 games, while starting one.

In 10 seasons in the NFL, all with the Saints, Tice appeared in 134 games, including 57 as a starter, compiling 158 catches for 1,603 yards and 15 touchdowns.

Tice is currently the offensive line coach/co-offensive coordinator at Pace University.