4 Huskers Selected in NFL Draft

via Huskers.com

The St. Louis Rams looked to former Blackshirt Adam Carriker to solidify their defensive line Saturday, drafting the 6'6 290 lb DE with their first round pick with the thirteenth selection in the NFL draft. The Rams have announced plans on moving Carriker inside to tackle, seeking a run stuffer for their 4-3 defensive unit. It was the highest draft pick from the Huskers since the Rams drafted Grant Wistrom #6 in 1998.

Also on Saturday, in one of the draft's biggest surprises, junior RB Brandon Jackson went with the 63rd selection to Green Bay in the second round. He was the fifth RB selected, and the highest a Husker offensive player was selected since 2002's Tony Funoti, who also went in the second to the Detroit Lions, and the highest a Husker RB had been selected since Lawrence Phillips was selected sixth in 1996. BJax looks good to get playing time in the Pack's version of the West Coast offense with his combination of running and pass catching ability, either as the featured back or a third down specialist.

Saturday also saw walk-on LB Stew Bradley selected by the Philadelphia Eagles in the third round with the 87th pick. Bradley figures to work as an ouside backer or possibly pass rushing defensive end with that club's 3-4 defensive scheme. Early Sunday, DE Jay Moore was selected by the San Francisco 49ers with the 104th pick in the fourth round. Moore also figures to play either OLB or DE in the Niners 3-4 scheme. Nebraska was one of only seven schools with four picks that early in the draft.

There were also 4 former Huskers signed to free agent deals; Husker signal caller Zac Taylor and TE Matt Herian both landed deals with the Tampa Bay Bucaneers, and I'd like to hope both can land roster spots this fall. Husker defensive linemen Barry Cryer signed with San Diego, and Ola Dagunduro signed with the Dallas Cowboys. Good luck to all of them with their NFL career aspirations.