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MAC Players Chosen in the 2009 NFL Draft

The 2009 NFL Draft took place on April 25th and 26th and we take a look at the MAC players selected in the 2009 NFL Draft.

> NFL Draft tabs a near record 10 MAC Players - MAC-sports.com

2009 NFL Draft - Round 1

• Larry English - DE - Northern Illinois - 16th overall to San Diego Chargers

  • A two-time winner of the league’s Vern Smith Leadership Award as voted by MAC head coaches with 31.5 career sacks and 61 career tackles for a loss; a three-time, first-team all-MAC selection - becomes the highest draft choice in NIU history.

2009 NFL Draft - Round 2

• Louis Delmas - S - Western Michigan - 33rd overall to Detroit Lions

  • Had a team-high 111 tackles in 2008; 310 career tackles and a four-year starter who began as a cornerback.

• Michael Mitchell - S - Ohio - 47th overall to Oakland Raiders

  • Plays either strong or free safety and nicknamed ‘the missile’ for his hard hits; had 62 tackles and 4.5 tackles for a loss in 2008 with three interceptions and five pass break ups.

2009 NFL Draft - Round 3

• Terrance Knighton - DT - Temple - 72nd overall to Jacksonville Jaguars

  • A three-year starter for the Owls who became Temple’s first-ever first-team All-MAC selection in 2008; averaged 58 tackles and 7.5 tackles for a loss during his last three seasons.

• Robert Brewster - OT - Ball State - 75th overall to Dallas Cowboys

  • A four-year starter for the Cardinals and an All-MAC selection in 2008; blocked for the league’s passing and rushing leader.

2009 NFL Draft - Round 4

• T.J. Lang - OT - Eastern Michigan - 109th overall to Green Bay Packers

  • Originally began as a defensive lineman; started 36 consecutive games; All-MAC selection in 2008

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2009 NFL Draft - Round 5

• Nate Davis - QB - Ball State - 171st overall to San Francisco 49ers

  • Led the MAC in passing efficiency the last three years; three year starter who skipped his senior year to enter the draft; MAC Offensive Player of the Year in 2008 as he led BSU to a school record 12 victories in 2008.

2009 NFL Draft - Round 6

• No former MAC players selected

2009 NFL Draft - Round 7

• E.J. Biggers - CB - Western Michigan - 217th overall to Tampa Bay Buccaneers

  • 2008 stats were 62 total tackles, 5 tackles for a loss, 2 interceptions, 4 pass break ups, a blocked kick, one forced fumble and one fumble recovery.

• Julian Edelman - QB - Kent State - 232nd overall to New England Patriots

  • A dual-threat QB who rushed for 1,370 yards and 13 touchdowns while averaging 6.4 yards per carry; passed for 1,820 yards and 13 touchdowns in 2008.

• Jake O’Connell - TE - Miami - 237th overall to Kansas City Chiefs

  • Caught 25 passes for 258 yards, an average of 10.3 yards per catch; Miami has had at least one draft selection in five of the last six years which includes Pittsburgh’s Ben Roethlisberger.

> For a complete list of 2009 NFL Draft picks as well as NFL coverage throughout the season, look to Pro Football Fans, a leading NFL fan site!

2009 NFL Draft Notes:

• This is the first time in MAC history that three defensive players have been taken in the first two rounds.
• For the second year in a row, a DE was the first MAC player taken in the draft (2008, Jason Jones, Eastern Michigan, second round and 54th overall by Tennessee).
• English was the first NIU defensive player taken since the Huskies rejoined the MAC in 1998.
• Delmas was the first Bronco drafted since 2006 when WR Greg Jennings ( Green Bay, 52nd) and TE Tony Scheffler ( Denver, 61st) both went in the second round.
• Mitchell’s selection gives the Bobcats two defensive picks in successive drafts (DT Landon Cohen, 216th overall, seventh round by Detroit in 2008).
• The 10 selections this year are the second most since the NFL went to a seven-round draft. In 2005 the MAC had 11 players selected.
• The MAC last had two quarterbacks drafted in 2006 when Omar Jacobs of Bowling Green (fifth round, 164 overall by Pittsburgh) and Bruce Gradkowski of Toledo (sixth round, 194 overall, by Tampa Bay) were taken.

Complete 2009 MAC Drafted & Free Agent Signings: