Sash Picked by Giants in Draft's 6th Round

April 30, 2011

IOWA CITY, Iowa — First-team all-Big Ten Conference safety is heading to the Big Apple as a sixth round selection of the NFL’s New York Giants in the 2011 NFL Draft.

The hard-hitting Sash leaves the Hawkeye football program ranked fifth in career interceptions with 13. He holds the UI’s career record with 392 interception return yards, a mark that ranks fourth best in Big Ten history. The most memorable of those pick was an 86-yard touchdown return in a come-from-behind victory over Indiana at Kinnick Stadium during Iowa’s brilliant 2009 FedEx Orange Bowl season.

Sash also collected a pair of interceptions in Iowa’s 2009 Outback Bowl victory over South Carolina. That performance tied a UI bowl record.

A native of Oskaloosa, Iowa, Sash was named third team all-America by Phil Steele after the 2010 season, his junior season at the UI.

“Sash has limitations athletically but he does possess the instincts, toughness and prowess to develop into a valued contributor as a reserve and heavy special teams player at the next level,” the editors of espn.com wrote after the selection.

The Giants finished 10-6 last season and in a first-place tie with Philadelphia in the NFC’s East. 2010 was also the second straight season that New York did not advance to post-season play.

Sash is the sixth Hawkeye taken in the 2011 NFL Draft. The UI parade began on Thursday night when defensive lineman Adrian Clayborn was selected by the Tampa Bay Bucaneers in the first round. Defensive line mate Christian Ballard was then selected by Minnesota in the fourth round followed by quarterback Ricky Stanzi (Kansas City), defensive lineman Karl Klug (Tennessee) and offensive lineman Julian Vandervelde (Philadelphia) in the fifth round.

Iowa also had six players taken in the 2010 NFL Draft. That list included Bryan Bulaga, a starter in the offensive line as rookie for the Super Bowl champion Green Bay Packers, and Pat Angerer (Indianapolis), Amari Spievey (Detroit) and Tony Moeaki (Kansas City) who all secured significant playing time in their first season in the NFL.

HAWKEYES DRAFTED DURING FERENTZ ERA
2011 NFL Draft
Round 1 Adrian Clayborn Tampa Bay Defensive end
Round 4 Christian Ballard Minnesota Defensive tackle
Round 5 Ricky Stanzi Kansas City Quarterback
Round 5 Karl Klug Tennessee Defensive tackle
Round 5 Julian Vandervelde Philadelphia Offensive line
Round 6 Tyler Sash New York Giants Safety
2010 NFL Draft
Round 1 Bryan Bulaga Green Bay Offensive line
Round 2 Pat Angerer Indianapolis Linebacker
Round 3 Amari Spievey Detroit Defensive back
Round 3 Tony Moeaki Kansas City Tight end
Round 4 A.J. Edds Miami Linebacker
Round 7 Kyle Calloway Buffalo Offensive line
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