Four Hawkeyes Selected in NFL Draft

Four Hawkeyes Selected in NFL Draft

April 27, 2009

IOWA CITY, Iowa — 32 straight at counting. That’s the number of NFL Drafts in a row that the University of Iowa has had at least one member of its football program selected to “play on Sunday.”

The Hawkeyes’ total number of draft selections jumped by four in 2008 with the selections of Shonn Greene, Bradley Fletcher, Seth Olsen and Brandon Myers in this year’s draft. A number of other Hawkeyes also signed free agent contracts with NFL franchises late in the final day of the draft including defensive linemen Mitch King and Matt Kroul.

“(Greene) was the best player that was on our board and, in our opinion, it wasn’t close,” Jets coach Rex Ryan told the Iowa City Press-Citizen. “It wasn’t necessarily a need, but you get a rare talent like Shonn is. He’s a big, powerful running back, and we want to have a little bit of ground and pound. … I think he’s got starter ability at 230 pounds with great vision. Let’s just give him the football and see what happens.”

Here’s links to stories about each of Iowa’s draftees:

The four selections is the most for the UI since the 2005 NFL Draft when five Hawkeyes had their names called. Iowa also had five student-athletes selected in the 2004 and 2003 NFL Drafts.

2009 Iowa Football Season Ticket Application (v3a)

HAWKEYES DRAFTED DURING FERENTZ ERA
2009 NFL Draft
Round 3 Shonn Greene New York Jets Running back
Round 3 Bradley Fletcher St. Louis Defensive back
Round 4 Seth Olsen Denver Offensive line
Round 6 Brandon Myers Oakland Tight end
2008 NFL Draft
Round 3 Charles Godfrey Carolina Defensive back
Round 4 Kenny Iwebema Arizona Defensive end
Round 6 Mike Humpal Pittsburgh Linebacker
2007 NFL Draft
Round 3 Marshal Yanda Baltimore Offensive line
Round 4 Scott Chandler San Diego Tight end
Round 7 Mike Elgin New England Offensive line
2006 NFL Draft
Round 1 Chad Greenway Minnesota Linebacker
Round 3 Abdul Hodge Green Bay Linebacker
2005 NFL Draft
Round 2 Matt Roth Miami Defensive end
Round 2 Jonathan Babineaux Atlanta Defensive line
Round 4 Sean Considine Philadelphia Defensive back
Round 6 Tony Jackson Seattle Tight end
Round 6 Pete McMahon Oakland Offensive line
2004 NFL Draft
Round 1 Robert Gallery Oakland Offensive line
Round 2 Bob Sanders Indianapolis Defensive back
Round 3 Nate Kaeding San Diego Place kicker
Round 7 Jared Clauss Tennessee Defensive line
Round 7 Erik Jensen St. Louis Tight end
2003 NFL Draft
Round 1 Dallas Clark Indianapolis Tight end
Round 2 Eric Steinbach Cincinnati Offensive line
Round 2 Bruce Nelson Carolina Center
Round 5 Derek Pagel New York Jets Defensive back
Round 5 Ben Sobieski Buffalo Offensive line
2002 NFL Draft
Round 2 Ladell Betts Washington Running back
Round 5 Aaron Kampman Green Bay Defensive line
Round 6 Kahlil Hill Atlanta Wide receiver
2001 NFL Draft
Round 6 Kevin Kasper Denver Wide receiver
2000 NFL Draft
Round 5 Austin Wheatley New Orleans Tight end
Round 6 Matt Bowen St. Louis Defensive back