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TAMPA -- Former University of South Florida safety Nate Allen was selected in the second round with the 37th pick of the 2010 NFL Draft on Friday by the Philadelphia Eagles.

Allen becomes the fifth defensive back taken by NFL teams in the draft, joining former Bulls Mike Jenkins, Trae Williams, J.R. Reed and Anthony Henry.

It marks just the second time in USF history that a Bull has been taken in the second round. The previous time was when current Buffalo Bill linebacker Kawika Mitchell was selected by the Kansas City Chiefs in 2003.

Allen's selection at No. 37 overall is actually the third highest selection in USF history. The two higher are Jason Pierre-Paul at No. 15 in last night's first round and Mike Jenkins at No. 25 to the Dallas Cowboys in 2008.

Allen is the second USF defensive back to be drafted by the Eagles, joining current USF defensive graduate assistant J.R. Reed. Reed worked with the secondary and Allen last season.

Through 37 picks in the 2010 Draft, USF was one of just nine schools to have multiple players drafted joining Alabama, Oklahoma, Florida, Rutgers, Tennessee, Georgia Tech, Oklahoma State and Cal.

The former Bulls safety will have some shoes to fill immediately. He was selected with the pick that the Eagles acquired when they traded Donovan McNabb to the Redskins. He will attempt to fill the void left by former Eagle All-Pro and potential Hall of Famer Brian Dawkins.

The Cape Coral, Fla., native finished second on the team in 2009 in tackles with 85 and also recorded four interceptions, four pass breakups, one forced fumble, one fumble recovery and a sack on the year. Allen earned All-BIG EAST First Team honors by ESPN, Phil Steele and Rivals.com and second-team accolades by the BIG EAST coaches.

A three-time BIG EAST Defensive Player of the Week during his career, Allen earned the honor along with Walter Camp National Defensive Player of the Week and College Football Performance Defensive Back of the Week awards following his two-interception performance against Syracuse Oct. 3, the 11th time ever a USF defender picked off two passes in a game.

A big game performer, Allen had numerous momentum-turning plays throughout his time at USF, including 2008 against Kansas when he intercepted a Todd Reesing pass and returned it 40 yards to set up the winning field goal. In 2007, his interception return for a touchdown helped key a 27-point swing for the Bulls in a victory at Pitt. Most recently, Allen returned a blocked field goal for a 75-yard touchdown against Charleston Southern in the third game of the 2009 campaign.

One of five USF captains his senior year, Allen started the last 39 games of his career and played in 48 all together, registering 224 tackles during his four years with the Bulls, including 144 of the solo variety, along with nine interceptions, 12 pass breakups, five tackles for loss and four fumble recoveries.