April 16, 2009
Once a high-flying hoops star, former Texas DE Brian Orakpo dreamed he'd one day be in NYC for the draft. That was then and this is now. Late in his prep career, Orakpo traded in his high tops and committed to the helmet and shoulder pads. After signing with Texas in 2004, Orakpo transformed himself over the next five years. He went from a 210-pound freshman to a 253-pound phenom that earned a degree in youth and community studies and won three national awards as a senior. His hard work at The University of Texas has resulted in an invitation to the 74th Annual NFL Draft at Radio City Music Hall in New York City.
The 2008 Lombardi Award, Nagurski Trophy and Hendricks Award winner will attend the NFL Draft festivities with friends and family. He's heading to the Big Apple next Thursday for events that begin early on Friday, April 24.
"I'm really honored and excited that the NFL asked me to be in New York for the draft," Orakpo said. "It was an easy decision for me, because the one thing I've said all along is I want to enjoy as much of this process as I can. It's just another learning experience that will give me some great memories to look back on. I'm looking forward to getting there, seeing the sights, hanging out with all of the guys, enjoying the events and finally getting drafted. This has been a hectic few months, going through the combine, our pro day and visiting with the teams, but I know it will be topped off by a fun weekend in New York."
Orakpo is one of nine players that will be in attendance at this year's draft. The other eight players scheduled to be in New York are WR Michael Crabtree (Texas Tech), LB Aaron Curry (Wake Forest), LB Brian Cushing (USC), QB Josh Freeman (Kansas State), OT Eugene Monroe (Virginia), OT Michael Oher (Mississippi), OT Jason Smith (Baylor) and QB Matthew Stafford (Georgia).
"It's a great weekend for the players and their families," said Gil Brandt, former director of player personnel for the Dallas Cowboys who now works for NFL.com and, for the past 14 years, has helped coordinate the college player's invitations to the draft. "We try to invite guys that are projected among the top 10 picks and bring them in for the draft. They'll have a chance to participate in a national TV morning show, ring the bell at the stock exchange and meet the commissioner. There's also a big press conference on Friday that's covered by members of the media from all over the world.
"They'll stay pretty busy and have a lot of fun. Then, they go get drafted on Saturday and smile for the cameras."
Orakpo is not the first Longhorn to be invited to New York for the draft during the Mack Brown era. In fact, he will be the eighth player during Brown's 11 seasons that will have the chance to hold up his NFL jersey in front of a national television audience. That more than doubles any other college program during that stretch.
"We've been fortunate enough to have a lot of players that have worked extremely hard to prepare themselves to be among the NFL's top prospects," said Texas head coach Mack Brown. "They've improved every year on the field, been very coachable and grown into tremendous leaders in our program. That's paid off for them on draft day."
QB Vince Young made the trip in 2006 and was taken with the third overall pick by the Tennessee Titans. The year before, RB Cedric Benson traveled to New York and was selected fourth by the Chicago Bears. WR Roy Williams made the trip in 2004 and was taken with the eighth pick by the Detroit Lions. Texas' tandem of OT Mike Williams and CB Quentin Jammer were in New York in 2002 and were selected fourth and fifth by the Buffalo Bills and San Diego Chargers, respectively. They became the first Longhorns duo in school history to be selected in the top five overall. OT Leonard Davis was on hand for the festivities in 2001 and was selected second overall by the Arizona Cardinals. RB Ricky Williams capped his Heisman Trophy year by being selected with the fifth overall pick by the New Orleans Saints in 1999.
Of the seven Longhorns invited to NYC prior to this year, all seven have started multiple games and four have earned trips to the Pro Bowl.
Orakpo will increase the Longhorns' first-round draft pick total to 14 since Brown arrived in Austin. Over the last eight years, Texas has had 12 players drafted in the first round, which is tied for second nationally. This year will mark the eighth time in Brown's 11 seasons that a Longhorn will be drafted in the first round. In addition, the Horns have had at least two players go in the first round six times during that stretch.
Saturday could mark the ninth time during the Brown era that UT has featured one of the draft's Top 10 selections. Texas' eight Top 10 selections entering the 2009 draft rank first nationally and are one more than USC. The Longhorns' six Top Five draft picks over that span are double that of any other program.
Overall, during Mack Brown's tenure, 37 Longhorns have been drafted. Every one of those 37 players has made an NFL roster and played at least two NFL seasons. In addition, 32 of the 37 Longhorn draftees are still active in the NFL, including each of the 21 total players selected over the last four years.
Currently, Texas has 39 players on NFL rosters, which is the most among Big 12 schools and ranks eighth nationally. Of those 39 players, 32 have started games during their NFL careers, including 31 who have started over the last two seasons and 26 that started as rookies. In addition, eight have earned a spot in the Pro Bowl and seven have played in a Super Bowl with three coming away as Super Bowl Champions.
For complete Longhorn draft coverage go to MackBrown-TexasFootball.com's Draft Index. MackBrown-TexasFootball.com will also bring you the most in-depth coverage of the Longhorn selections as they happen during the draft, which begins at 3 p.m. Central on Saturday, April 25 on NFL Network, ESPN and ESPN2.
2009 NFL DRAFT FACTS & FIGURES
WHAT
74th Annual National Football League Player Selection Meeting
WHERE
Radio City Music Hall, 1260 Avenue of the Americas, New York, N.Y. (between 50th and 51st streets)
WHEN
3 p.m. Central, Saturday, April 25 (Rounds 1-2)
9 a.m. Central, Sunday, April 26 (Rounds 3-7)
The first two rounds will conclude on Saturday by approximately 9 p.m. Central. In 2008, the first round consumed three hours and 30 minutes and the second took two hours and 23 minutes. The draft will resume on Sunday at 9 a.m. Central for the final five rounds, ending at approximately 5:30 p.m. Central. Rounds 3 through 7 took eight hours and 33 minutes in 2008.
DRAFTING
Representatives of the 32 NFL clubs by telephone communication with their general managers, coaches and scouts
ROUNDS
Seven Rounds -- Rounds 1 and 2 on Saturday, April 25; and Rounds 3 through 7 on Sunday, April 26
There will be 256 selections, including 32 compensatory choices that have been awarded to 16 teams that suffered a net loss of certain quality unrestricted free agents last year.
The following 32 compensatory choices will supplement the 224 regular choices in the seven rounds -- Round 3: New England, 33; Cincinnati, 34; Chicago, 35; New York Giants, 36. Round 4: San Diego, 33; San Diego, 34; Tennessee, 35; Indianapolis 36. Round 5: Pittsburgh, 33; New England, 34; San Francisco, 35; Dallas, 36; Tennessee, 37. Round 6: Tennessee, 33; New England, 34; Dallas, 35; Cincinnati, 36. Round 7: Tennessee, 33; Washington, 34; San Francisco, 35; Seattle, 36; Chicago, 37; Seattle, 38; Seattle, 39; Cincinnati, 40; Jacksonville, 41; Chicago, 42; Cincinnati, 43; Jacksonville, 44; Arizona, 45; Detroit, 46; Kansas City, 47.
Denver (Nos. 12 and 18), Detroit (Nos. 1 and 20) and Philadelphia (Nos. 21 and 28) have two selections each in the first round. Carolina, Chicago and Dallas do not have first-round picks. All other teams have one first-round selection.
TIME LIMITS
Round 1: 10 minutes per selection
Round 2: Seven minutes per selection
Rounds 3 through 7: Five minutes per selection
TELEVISION
NFL Network and ESPN/ESPN 2 will televise the draft on both days.
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