Huskers still waiting, but optimistic
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BY BRIAN CHRISTOPHERSON / Lincoln Journal Star
Not very often do the first couple rounds pass in the NFL Draft without at least one Husker’s name being called.
But that’s how it played out Saturday, the first two of seven rounds completed, and no Nebraska player selected.
“It’s been wild, a lot of different things, a lot of calls, not knowing what to expect,” said former Husker receiver Maurice Purify.
The uncertainty wasn’t ruining Purify’s day. He spoke loudly into the phone over a crowd of about 50 people who had gathered at his family’s home in California.
“I have not even had much time for myself,” an upbeat Purify said. “I’ve been so busy with trainers, working out, eating right, doing what I need to do.”
It wasn’t a major surprise that no Husker was chosen Saturday. Offensive lineman Carl Nicks figured to be the only former Nebraska player with a chance of being drafted in the first two rounds.
It’s expected the 340-pound Nicks will go rather quickly Sunday when the draft resumes. Among Scout Inc.’s top remaining offensive tackles, Nicks is second on the list behind Kansas’ Anthony Collins.
The second round, where Nicks had hoped to be drafted, was friendlier to receivers than offensive linemen. Ten receivers were chosen in the round, including Kansas State standout Jordy Nelson (Green Bay), Oklahoma’s Malcom Kelly (Washington) and Texas’ Limas Sweed (Pittsburgh).
Eight players from the Big 12 were taken, but only one in the first round. That was Aqib Talib, the 20th pick to Tampa Bay, a cornerback who shut down many receivers but not Purify. The Husker receiver had three touchdowns against Talib last fall.
Scout Inc. doesn’t list Purify among its top 10 remaining receivers, but still, the former Husker was optimistic that his name might be rattled off very early Sunday. The draft resumes at 9 a.m.
While some analysts have predicted he would be a late-round pick at best, Purify said his agent was telling him he has a good chance to go in either the third or fourth rounds.
“I shouldn’t go past the fifth round,” Purify said.
Other Huskers with hopes of getting drafted Sunday include cornerback Zack Bowman, linebackers Steve Octavien and Bo Ruud, and quarterback Sam Keller.
It is a rarity to not see a Nebraska player selected on the first day, though it did happen as recently as 2004, when it was the fourth round before linebacker Demorrio Williams became the first Husker picked.
Dating to the 1971 draft, only four times (2004, 1990, 1986, 1976) has Nebraska not had a player taken in the first two rounds.
Of course, what round a guy is selected hardly translates to what success he’ll have in the NFL. After all, Williams has excelled. And Tom Rathman, who waited until the third round to become the first Husker drafted in ’86, had an NFL career that would make plenty of first-round picks envious.
Purify realizes just getting drafted is a feat unto itself.
“It’s going to be a blessing,” Purify said. “Nobody from around these parts has ever been drafted.”
Reach Brian Christopherson at 473-7439 or bchristopherson@journalstar.com.
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