April
19, 2004
HUSKIE FOOTBALL
NORTHERN ILLINOIS UNIVERSITY AND THE 2004 NATIONAL FOOTBALL
LEAGUE DRAFT
THE EVENT
The 69th Annual National Football League Draft on Saturday-Sunday
(April 24-25) in The Theater at Madison Square Garden, New York,
NY
TV SCHEDULE
Saturday (April 24): Rounds One-Two, ESPN, Noon (EDT) / Round
Three, 7 p.m. (EDT)
Sunday (April 25): Rounds Four-Seven, ESPN, 11 a.m.-1 p.m.
(EDT), ESPN2, 1-6 p.m. (EDT)
BASIC FORMAT
The 2004 NFL Draft will run seven rounds. The 32 franchises will
select 255 athletes---including 32 compensatory players that have
been awarded to 16 teams. The time limits for selections---(1) 15
minutes for each team in round one, (2) 10 minutes for each team
in round two, and (3) five minutes for each team in rounds three-through-seven.
HUSKIE NFL PROSPECTS
Four Northern Illinois seniors---placekicker Steve Azar (Colorado
Springs, CO / Highlands Ranch), cornerback Randee Drew (Milwaukee,
WI / Glendale Nicolet), strong safety Akil Grant (Kankakee),
and tailback Michael “The Burner” Turner (North
Chicago)---are listed as 2004 draft prospects on the official NFL.com
website <“NFL Draft Tracker”> this week. ESPN.com
lists six Huskies players---adding linebacker Nick Duffy (Wheaton
/ Warrenville South) and wide receiver P. J. Fleck (Sugar
Grove / Maple Park Kaneland) to the mix. Yahoo! Sports mentions
eight Northern Illinois products---adding defensive end Jason
Frank (Lakeville, MN) and center Todd Ghilani (Elkhorn,
WI / Area). The Pro Football Weekly 2004 Draft Preview rates seven
Northern Illinois players on the prospect list---Azar, Drew, Duffy,
Fleck, Ghilani, Grant, and Turner.
NORTHERN ILLINOIS DRAFT HISTORY
The last multiple-player Northern Illinois draft happened in 2001
with OT Ryan Diem (fourth round by the Indianapolis Colts)
and WR Justin McCareins (fourth round by the Tennessee Titans).
On two previous occasions, the Huskies have had three-man NFL drafts---
(1) DT Scott Kellar (fifth round by the Indianapolis Colts,
WR Curt Pardridge (sixth round by the San Diego Chargers),
and DT Steve O’Malley (seventh round by the Indianapolis
Colts) in 1986 and (2) NG Doug Bartlett (fourth round by
the Los Angeles Rams), LB Clarence Vaughn (eighth round by
the Washington Redskins), and OG Todd Peat (11th round by
the St. Louis Cardinals) in 1987. The last Northern Illinois NFL
draft pick? WR Darrell “The Thrill” Hill (seventh
round by the Tennessee Titans) in 2002. Since 1952 and starting
with NIU Athletics Hall of Famer WR Fran Cahill---a 19th-round
pick of the New York Giants, the Huskie program has had 28 NFL draft
selections.
TOP EIGHT ALL-TIME HUSKIE NFL PICKS
No. 1: 1969---WR John Spilis, Green Bay Packers (Third Round / 64th
Player)
No. 2: 1994---TB LeShon Johnson, Green Bay Packers (Third Round
/ 84th Player)
No. 3: 1987---NG Doug Bartlett, Los Angeles Rams (Fourth Round /
91st Player)
No. 4: 1986---DT Scott Kellar, Indianapolis Colts (Fifth Round /
117th Player)
No. 5: 2001---OT Ryan Diem, Indianapolis Colts (Fourth Round / 118th
Player)
No. 6: 2001---WR Justin McCareins, Tennessee Titans (Fourth Round
/ 124th Player)
No. 7: 1973---LB Larry Clark, Pittsburgh Steelers (Fifth Round /
128th Player)
No. 8: 1977---TE Ken Moore, Minnesota Vikings (Fifth Round / 138th
Player)
2004 TOP PROSPECTS
Michael “The Burner” Turner, 5-10, 232, Tailback (2000-03)
Scouting Report: Rated No. 8 RB in draft by Yahoo! Sports, No. 9
by Pro Football Weekly, and No. 9 by The Sporting News (2004). Consensus:
Second-to-fourth round pick. Highlights: Ran :04.46 time for 40
at NFL Combine in February. Scored second-highest grade among combine
RBs on Wonderlic test with a 35. Played in Senior Bowl. NIU: Two-time
(1) First-Team All-Mid-American Conference, (2) All-America, (3)
Doak Walker National Runningback Award semifinalist (final eight),
and (4) NCAA 1-A rushing runner-up (1,905 yards in 2002 and 1,648
in 2003). Finished as No. 2 all-time MAC rusher and No. 13 in NCAA
1-A football (4,941 career yards). Won back-to-back Mid-Am rushing
crowns (2002-03). Set 13 major Northern Illinois records---most
notable, No. 1 in career rushing, 100-yard performances (21), and
MAC Player of the Week awards (nine). Ranked No. 2 in NCAA rushing
(137.3 ypg. average), No. 6 in all-purpose yardage (161.3 ypg.),
and No. 22 in scoring (8.5 ppg.) (2003). Made Second-Team Associated
Press All-America---one of four Huskie AP major-college All-America
picks since 1978. Compared to Bo Jackson (Auburn) and Lamont Jordan
(New York Jets). Lost only two fumbles in last 508 carries. Joe
Novak: “He (Turner) loves to compete on game day. I think Michael
helped himself at the NFL Combine. He’s one of the fastest
runningbacks in the draft. It’s rounds two, three, or four.
It depends on the team and their needs.”
Steve Azar, 5-7, 195, Placekicker (2000-23)
Scouting Report: Ranked as No. 7 PK in draft by Pro Football Weekly
and No. 9 by The Sporting News. Called draft “sleeper”
by the Chicago Tribune (2004). Consensus: Late round or NFL free
agent. Highlights: Played in three national postseason all-star
games---(1) Blue-Gray Classic, (2) Hula Bowl, and (3) The Villages
Gridiron Classic (2003-04). NIU: Finished as No. 9 kick-scorer in
NCAA Division 1-A history (school-record 370 career points) and
No. 9 in all-time NCAA 1-A field goals (73). First four-time All-MAC
gridder in school history. Kicked five of the six longest field
goals at Northern Illinois---school-record 52-yarder vs. No. 13-ranked
Maryland (2003), plus 51-yarder vs. No. 21 Alabama (2003) and vs.
Wake Forest (2002). Three-year All-America and two-time MAC Special
Teams Player of the Year. Two-time Lou Groza Collegiate Placekicker
Award national semi-finalist (2001, 2003). Led MAC in kick-scoring
and field goals (2000-03). Set at least 18 NIU records. Made First-Team
Football News Frosh All-America (2000).
Todd Ghilani, 6-4, 304, Center (2000-03)
Scouting Report: Late bloomer for experts. Rated No. 24 among centers
by Pro Football Weekly (2004). Consensus: Late rounds or NFL free
agent. Highlights: Performed in two national post-season all-star
games---(1) East-West Shrine Classic and (2) The Villages Gridiron
Classic (2004). Blocked for lone West TD in Shrine Classic. NIU:
Two-year All-MAC choice (2002-03). Named to preseason Outland Trophy
watch list (2003). Led team in knockdown blocks (67) last season.
Nick Duffy, 6-2, 238, Linebacker (2000-03)
Scouting Report: Ranked No. 27 at ILB by Pro Football Weekly (2004).
Consensus: NFL free agent. Highlights: “Heart and soul”
of Northern Illinois defense. Missed final six games of career (right
ankle fracture). Named Honorable Mention All-MAC by loop coaches
(2003). Began year on Butkus Award watch list (2003). NIU: Finished
No. 13 on Huskie Hit List with 339 career tackles. Started 29 consecutive
games prior to ankle injury. Top soph tackler in 1-A football (125
in 2001).
Akil Grant, 6-0, 192, Strong Safety (2000-03)
Scouting Report: Rated No. 22 at SS by Pro Football Weekly (2004).
Consensus: NFL free agent. Highlights: Played in one national postseason
all-star game---(1) The Villages Gridiron Classic (2004). NIU: Completed
career in No. 10 spot on all-time Huskie Hit List with 361 career
tackles. Named Second-Team All-MAC by loop coaches as a senior and
soph. Ranked No. 9 inNCAA solo tackles (92) and No. 18 nationally
in overall stops (138) as a junior (2002).
Randee Drew, 5-8, 184, Cornerback (2000-03)
Scouting Report: Ranked No. 52 at CB by The Sporting News and Pro
Football Weekly (2004).
Consensus: NFL free agent. Highlights: Played in two national postseason
all-star games---(1) Blue-Gray Classic and (2) Las Vegas All-American
Classic. NIU: Ranked No. 8 in NCAA 1-A passes defended (21) and
No. 11 in major-college “picks” (2003). Two-time First-Team
All-MAC pick.
P. J. Fleck, 5-11, 180, Wide Receiver (1999-2003)
Scouting Report: Rated No. 63 at WR by Pro Football Weekly (2004).
Consensus: NFL free agent. Highlights: USAToday.com National Player
of the Week and ESPN “SportsCenter” Play of the Day vs.
Maryland. Second-Team CoSIDA Academic All-America (2003). NIU: First-Team
All-MAC. Ranked No. 18 in 1-A catches (77). Set NIU mark for reception
yards (234) vs. Ohio (2003).
(For further information, please contact Mike Korcek) -NIU-
