NEW YORK, April 26 (UPI) -- Injury or no injury, Willis McGahee had just too much talent for the Buffalo Bills to ignore.
In one of the most eagerly anticipated selections of the NFL draft, the Bills used the 23rd selection on McGahee, the star running back from Miami who tore up his knee in the Hurricanes' Fiesta Bowl loss to Ohio State.
The Heisman Trophy finalist was almost certain to have been a top-five selection before the injury. But McGahee's recovery has been ahead of schedule and the question was who would take McGahee even if he might not be able to contribute immediately.
That team ended up being the Bills, who did not have a glaring need at running back. The Bills already have Travis Henry and signed Olandis Gary earlier this week.
On Tuesday, McGahee worked out for the coaches and scouts to show his progress 15 weeks after undergoing reconstructive knee surgery.
McGahee was an All-America after rushing for 1,686 yards and 27 touchdowns as a third-year sophomore last season. He also was a finalist for the Walter Camp Player of the Year Award and Doak Walker Award.
McGahee was the first running back selected in the draft and the 23rd position was the second lowest in history in which the first runner was chosen.
