NFLgrabs two Lincoln natives
BYKENHAMBLETON
Husker players from Lincoln had their best NFL draft, and Nebraska ended up with five players taken in the seven rounds of the two-day draft in New York City.
All-Big 12 linebacker Demorrio Williams was the first Nebraska player taken when the Atlanta Falcons made him their fourth-round pick Sunday.
It was the first time since 1970 that a Husker was not chosen in the first three rounds and was just the third time in the last 34 years NU has not had a first- or second-round pick.
Still, there was plenty of joy among the Huskers selected in the 2004 draft.
Former NUquarterback Jammal Lord is headed to Houston as a free safety or running back after the Texans chose him in the sixth round.
Former Huskers Josh Sewell, a center from Lincoln Southeast, and Trevor Johnson, a defensive end from Lincoln Northeast, were the first Lincoln natives chosen in the draft since 1997 and only the ninth and 10th Huskers from Lincoln chosen since 1964.
Sewell was taken in the sixth round by Denver and Johnson was chosen in the seventh round by the New York Jets.
Sewell, a former Journal Star Super-State second-team lineman, transferred to Nebraska from Indiana State in 2001.
He became Nebraska's starting center last year and dazzled pro scouts with a 5.03-second time in the 40-yard dash (fastest among offensive linemen at the NFLCombine) and had 35 repetitions of bench pressing 225 pounds (best of any center tested).
"I'm glad to be a Bronco - what a great team with a great tradition of great offensive lines," Sewell said. "I was getting calls from all over, San Diego and Jacksonville, telling me they were going to pick me, but Denver was up next and they said stop worrying about the draft because I was their pick."
Sewell has two weeks before the Bronco rookie camp and two weeks before he graduates with a degree in finance.
"It should be a quick two weeks," he said.
Johnson had a longer wait Sunday.
"It was exciting to be drafted and it was almost as exciting to see some of my teammates get picked, too," said Johnson, the former Journal Star Prep Athlete of the Year, who was the 235th player chosen in the 255-player draft. "I knew I'd be with somebody, if I didn't get drafted but it meant a lot to get picked.
"I know the Jets run the same defense that we ran here and I can give up being nervous until the rookie camp coming up.
"The Packers called and talked to me about playing tight end and special teams, but the Jets drafted me first and all my thoughts about other positions kind of went away."
Lord may have been the surprise of the draft. Although he did not show up in any of the prominent mock drafts by NFL analysts, he was the 175th player chosen.
"When Houston called, they said I'd be tried as a free safety and that's fine with me," said Lord, who started at quarterback the last two years after replacing Heisman Trophy winner Eric Crouch.
"I am ready for the change in position," Lord said. "I'm an athlete and I played safety and cornerback in high school, so it won't be completely new to me."
NFL analyst Mel Kiper said the transition from quarterback to another position is hard to make. He cited the problems Crouch has had sticking with an NFL team. However, former NU quarterback Scott Frost has played in the NFL on and off for six years as a defensive back.
Texans general manager Charley Casserly said of Lord, "I really debated whether to announce him as a quarterback or a safety. Yes, it's a projection, but it's the kind of thing you take a shot at in the sixth round and maybe we'll hit a home run."
Williams was the first Husker taken and the 101st overall pick.
"I was up all night because I thought I was a second- or third-round pick on Saturday and I wasn't," Williams said from his home in Beckville, Texas.
"Atlanta called me early in the morning and said I'd be going and I just relaxed," he said. "Goodbye to the oil fields (where he once worked), goodbye to a lot of things and now onto the opportunity to get on the field and do what I think I do best."
Williams will be joining a team that has former Huskers Eric Johnson at linebacker and Tyrone Williams at defensive back.
"I think coach Bo Pelini made a big difference in me getting this far," Williams said. "I might not have been anywhere without the things Nebraska did for me."
Kiper said Williams should be invaluable as a special-teams player as a rookie. He said Williams was one of the best open-field tacklers in college football and that former NUdefensive coordinator Pelini was able to exploit those talents.
Former Husker defensive tackle Ryon Bingham was taken in the seventh round by San Diego.
"I'll be back on the same team with my old Husker roommate Toniu Fonoti and playing for a team that said it needs help everywhere," he said. "I believe I have the capability to make it in the NFL after playing for Bo Pelini last year.
"Like everybody else who got drafted, or the guys who sign as free agents in the next couple of days, the key is I've got a shot at the NFL and that's all I can ask for right now."
Reach Ken Hambleton at 473-7313 or at khambleton@;journalstar.com.
Husker players from Lincoln had their best NFL draft, and Nebraska ended up with five players taken in the seven rounds of the two-day draft in New York City.
All-Big 12 linebacker Demorrio Williams was the first Nebraska player taken when the Atlanta Falcons made him their fourth-round pick Sunday.
It was the first time since 1970 that a Husker was not chosen in the first three rounds and was just the third time in the last 34 years NU has not had a first- or second-round pick.
Still, there was plenty of joy among the Huskers selected in the 2004 draft.
Former NUquarterback Jammal Lord is headed to Houston as a free safety or running back after the Texans chose him in the sixth round.
Former Huskers Josh Sewell, a center from Lincoln Southeast, and Trevor Johnson, a defensive end from Lincoln Northeast, were the first Lincoln natives chosen in the draft since 1997 and only the ninth and 10th Huskers from Lincoln chosen since 1964.
Sewell was taken in the sixth round by Denver and Johnson was chosen in the seventh round by the New York Jets.
Sewell, a former Journal Star Super-State second-team lineman, transferred to Nebraska from Indiana State in 2001.
He became Nebraska's starting center last year and dazzled pro scouts with a 5.03-second time in the 40-yard dash (fastest among offensive linemen at the NFLCombine) and had 35 repetitions of bench pressing 225 pounds (best of any center tested).
"I'm glad to be a Bronco - what a great team with a great tradition of great offensive lines," Sewell said. "I was getting calls from all over, San Diego and Jacksonville, telling me they were going to pick me, but Denver was up next and they said stop worrying about the draft because I was their pick."
Sewell has two weeks before the Bronco rookie camp and two weeks before he graduates with a degree in finance.
"It should be a quick two weeks," he said.
Johnson had a longer wait Sunday.
"It was exciting to be drafted and it was almost as exciting to see some of my teammates get picked, too," said Johnson, the former Journal Star Prep Athlete of the Year, who was the 235th player chosen in the 255-player draft. "I knew I'd be with somebody, if I didn't get drafted but it meant a lot to get picked.
"I know the Jets run the same defense that we ran here and I can give up being nervous until the rookie camp coming up.
"The Packers called and talked to me about playing tight end and special teams, but the Jets drafted me first and all my thoughts about other positions kind of went away."
Lord may have been the surprise of the draft. Although he did not show up in any of the prominent mock drafts by NFL analysts, he was the 175th player chosen.
"When Houston called, they said I'd be tried as a free safety and that's fine with me," said Lord, who started at quarterback the last two years after replacing Heisman Trophy winner Eric Crouch.
"I am ready for the change in position," Lord said. "I'm an athlete and I played safety and cornerback in high school, so it won't be completely new to me."
NFL analyst Mel Kiper said the transition from quarterback to another position is hard to make. He cited the problems Crouch has had sticking with an NFL team. However, former NU quarterback Scott Frost has played in the NFL on and off for six years as a defensive back.
Texans general manager Charley Casserly said of Lord, "I really debated whether to announce him as a quarterback or a safety. Yes, it's a projection, but it's the kind of thing you take a shot at in the sixth round and maybe we'll hit a home run."
Williams was the first Husker taken and the 101st overall pick.
"I was up all night because I thought I was a second- or third-round pick on Saturday and I wasn't," Williams said from his home in Beckville, Texas.
"Atlanta called me early in the morning and said I'd be going and I just relaxed," he said. "Goodbye to the oil fields (where he once worked), goodbye to a lot of things and now onto the opportunity to get on the field and do what I think I do best."
Williams will be joining a team that has former Huskers Eric Johnson at linebacker and Tyrone Williams at defensive back.
"I think coach Bo Pelini made a big difference in me getting this far," Williams said. "I might not have been anywhere without the things Nebraska did for me."
Kiper said Williams should be invaluable as a special-teams player as a rookie. He said Williams was one of the best open-field tacklers in college football and that former NUdefensive coordinator Pelini was able to exploit those talents.
Former Husker defensive tackle Ryon Bingham was taken in the seventh round by San Diego.
"I'll be back on the same team with my old Husker roommate Toniu Fonoti and playing for a team that said it needs help everywhere," he said. "I believe I have the capability to make it in the NFL after playing for Bo Pelini last year.
"Like everybody else who got drafted, or the guys who sign as free agents in the next couple of days, the key is I've got a shot at the NFL and that's all I can ask for right now."
Reach Ken Hambleton at 473-7313 or at khambleton@;journalstar.com.
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