The University of Texas at Austin Athletics
Six Longhorns selected in the 2006 NFL Draft
04.30.2006 | Football
The University of Texas completed the 2006 NFL Draft having had six players selected after two Longhorns, OT Jonathan Scott (Lions, No. 141) and DT Rodrique Wright (Dolphins, No. 226), were chosen during the second day of the draft on Sunday. QB Vince Young (Titans, No. 3) and S Michael Huff (Raiders, No. 7) were first round selections on Saturday while CB Cedric Griffin (Vikings, No. 48) came off the board in the second round and TE David Thomas (Patriots, No. 86) was drafted in the third round.
The six Longhorns chosen in the seven-round draft are the most for Texas since 1997, when there were also six Longhorns selected. UT's six selections increased its number of players drafted during Mack Brown's eight-year tenure to 26. UT has had six players selected in an individual draft five other times (1997, '87, '86, '55, '53). The Longhorns have had more than six players selected in an individual draft 19 times since it began in 1936. The most players Texas has ever had selected in one draft is 17 in 1984.
As for Mack Brown, he continues to have great success producing NFL-caliber players. During his 22-year career as a head coach, he has now seen 76 of his former players selected in the NFL Draft. This year's draft marks the 21st consecutive draft in which one of Brown's players has been selected. In fact, Brown has produced at least one NFL draft pick in 21 of his 22 seasons as a head coach. Brown has coached 15 players (11 at Texas/four at North Carolina) who have been selected in the first round of the NFL Draft over the past nine years and he has had at least one first-round selection in eight of the last 11 NFL Drafts. He has coached 32 draft picks over the past eight years.
Scott became the fourth Longhorn offensive lineman drafted in the past six years with the last being Derrick Dockery, who was drafted by the Washington Redskins in the third round of the 2003 draft. He is also the fourth Texas player drafted by the Lions in the last six years. He joins WR Roy Williams (2004, first round), DE Cory Redding (2003, third round), and DT Shaun Rogers (2001, second round).
"Jonathan Scott has got basketball feet, a tremendous frame and a high intelligence level," Mack Brown said. "He earned his degree last spring and has a great understanding of the game. He has become so much stronger and is the prototype left tackle that the NFL people are looking for to protect the backside of the quarterback."
Scott earned All-Big 12 honors each of his four years at UT. He played in 51 career games and started 45, including his final 43 contests and all 13 games in 2005. Last season, he was a unanimous first-team All-America selection.
Wright is the fourth Longhorn defensive tackle selected in the last six years. He joins Marcus Tubbs (2003, Seattle Seahawks, first round), Casey Hampton (2001, Pittsburgh Steelers, first round) and Shaun Rogers (2001, Detroit Lions, second round).
"Rod Wright is a big, athletic guy that started and excelled for four years at Texas," said Brown. "He played injured and always showed great leadership. I give him a lot of the credit for changing the attitude around our summer workout program. He took it from a program where guys might show up to one where everyone showed up because of his leadership."
Wright was a 2005 Lombardi Award finalist and was also named to the Bednarik Award, Outland Trophy and Nagurski Trophy watch lists. He earned consensus first-team All-America honors in 2005. Wright started 45 games over four seasons and played in 50 career games compiling 227 tackles, 17.5 sacks, 42 TFL, 67 pressures, eight PBD and six forced fumbles.
