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Jammer, Williams lead UT to record-setting first day of NFL Draft
NEW YORK -- University of Texas cornerback Quentin Jammer (Angleton, Texas) and offensive tackle Mike Williams (The Colony, Texas) were selected in the first round of the 2002 NFL Draft held on Saturday at The Theatre at Madison Square Garden. Williams was chosen by the Buffalo Bills with the fourth overall selection, while Jammer was picked by the San Diego Chargers one pick later with the fifth overall pick. The two All-Americans became the first Longhorns duo in school history to be selected in the top five overall. The two first-round draft picks also marked the second consecutive year that a pair of Longhorns have gone in the opening round, which also is a first in UT history. The program has had two or more first-round choices four other times in school annals (UT-record three in 1980/two in 1948, '53, '91). The Longhorns also extended their NFL record for consecutive years with at least one draft choice to 65. The Longhorns were one of only five schools that had at least two first-round selections and the first since Penn State in 2000 to have a pair go in the top five. National Champion Miami (Fla.) led the way on Saturday with five first-rounders, while Tennessee had three and Boston College, North Carolina and Tennessee had two. UT and Miami (Fla.) are the only schools that have had at least two first-round picks in each of the last two drafts. The Longhorns also moved into a ninth-place tie with Alabama on the all-time NFL first-round draft selections list with 32. "We're happy for Mike and Quentin," head coach Mack Brown said. "I think Buffalo and San Diego will both be happy with the type of player and person they have drafted. Mike and Quentin being drafted so highly is a credit to them and our coaching staff. Quentin's decision to return for his senior year was obviously the right one and Mike has proven what he could do by being a big part of an offense that has averaged more than 37 points per game the past four years. The job of a coach is to evaluate talent in recruiting and then help young guys realize their potential. Both of these guys have taken care of their business in the classroom as well as on the football field and I am very proud of them. I'm looking forward to watching them in the NFL." This year's draft marked the 17th consecutive year that Brown has had a player selected. He has coached nine players (five at Texas/four at North Carolina) that have been picked in the first round of the past five NFL drafts, and during the last seven years, Brown has had 15 players selected in the first two rounds. Jammer is coming off a senior year to remember for UT. He became the Longhorns' first-ever Jim Thorpe Award finalist (nation's outstanding defensive back) and the program's first defensive player to earn unanimous consensus All-American since Jerry Gray in 1984. He registered 55 tackles (46 solo), three TFLs, a pair of interceptions, one forced fumble and a UT-record 24 pass breakups last season. Jammer helped UT lead the country in total defense (236.2 ypg) and to top 10 national rankings in rushing (89.5/sixth), passing (146.7 ypg/third), pass efficiency (88.0 rtg/fourth) and scoring defense (13.7/third). The Longhorns allowed a national-low 4.77 yards per pass attempt and just six touchdown passes (tied for second-lowest nationally). The two-time first-team All-Big 12 selection ended his stellar career with a UT-record 57 PBUs. Williams developed into one of the nation's top offensive linemen in 2001. He earned first-team All-America honors from the American Football Coaches Association, Walter Camp Football Foundation and Football News. He registered 67 knockdown blocks and 64 pancakes, allowed only one sack and helped clear the way on 18 touchdown runs, 34 explosive plays (runs or passes of 12+ yards) and 24-of-25 third down conversions last season. The first-team All-Big 12 performer helped the UT offense score a Big 12-best 39.2 points per game (sixth nationally) and tally 162.3 rushing, 250.3 passing and 412.6 total yards per contest. Williams also was the leader of a Longhorns offensive line that opened holes for UT's seventh consecutive 1,000-yard rusher (Cedric Benson, 1,053 yards).
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