4/23/05

Mack Brown's Draft Day Comments

On Cedric Benson being drafted fourth overall:
"I thought Cedric would have been taken as one of the best players in the country, besides people saying this was the year for the running back. I was confident throughout, and I didn't think there was a better place Cedric could go. It's a cold-weather place with a lot of wind where they run the ball. They've had a great running game throughout their history. They're missing that running game now, and they need it back. I think it will be perfect. Plus the fact that (former UT wide receivers coach and Bears receivers) Coach (Darryl) Drake is there to help guide him, and I was just on the Chicago Bears radio network and Nathan Vasher said he was glad he had a roommate coming."

On Derrick Johnson being drafted 15th overall:
"He was the first linebacker taken. When people look at linebackers, he was the best in the country. Detroit is where most people thought he would go, but they decided to go with offense instead of defense at that time. I would think probably the best evaluator for Derrick Johnson last year was Greg Robinson. Dick Vermeil probably talked to him and Greg said, 'You better grab him if you get a chance to.' For Cedric and Derrick to be two of the Top 15 players in the country is a great compliment to them, our coaches and their evaluation, and The University of Texas."

On Texas' draft success:
"When you're at a university like The University of Texas, which has the longest streak of having a player drafted every year in NFL history (68 years), and then to look at the number of draft choices, specifically first round picks over the last eight drafts, it shows our guys are doing a good job with evaluation. Obviously, our coaches are doing a good job coaching them and preparing them, and the people in the NFL see the ones who are in the league are successful. I think that string just continues. The other thing that we're so proud of is every young man so far that turned down the opportunity to leave early, which Cedric and Derrick did, has helped himself."