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Jason Williams, donning a Cowboys hat, with WIU Head Football Coach Don Patterson (photo by Athletics Media Services)
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Williams is first FCS player taken in 2009 NFL Draft; highest pick in WIU history at No. 69

April 26, 2009

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MACOMB, IL - - Western Illinois University senior Jason Williams became the top draft pick in Leatherneck history when the Dallas Cowboys picked him with their first selection in the 2009 NFL Draft Sunday morning.

Williams was the fifth player selected in the third round and the 69th pick overall, just 30 minutes after Sunday's events started. On Saturday Dallas traded its second-round pick to the Buffalo Bills, leaving the Cowboys without a pick in the first and second rounds.

"There are players in the third and fourth round that can get on the field quicker than maybe some players we would have looked at in the second round," Cowboys owner Jerry Jones said Saturday. "We are excited about (Sunday) and what we're going to be doing. We liked our odds better going into the third round."

It turns out Jones was referring Saturday to Williams, and on Sunday he got the guy he wanted.

Fifteen minutes after Williams arrived Sunday at Chick's on the Square in Macomb, where about 50 fans and family members were gathered to watch the draft, he received a phone call from Jones. Moments later Williams' name was announced by NFL Commissioner Roger Goodell on the podium in New York City.

Williams was the first FCS player selected in the draft, the first linebacker taken on day two and the fifth outside linebacker taken overall in the draft.

Most draft experts listed Williams at best a late third-round pick, behind three other FCS players, and some had him listed as late as the sixth round. As round three continued, William & Mary cornerback Derek Cox was taken at No. 73, Cal Poly wide receiver Ramses Barden was selected at No. 85, and Nicholls State corner Lardarius Webb was chosen 88th.

"Through the whole process I've heard there was an outside chance I would be taken early in the third round," said Williams. "I wasn't sure how early but I was hoping it would be in the first half. I'm tremendously excited to get down there. Of all my visits Dallas was one of my favorites, my top visit. Dallas was one of the top three teams that showed me the most interest, but I didn't know for sure how interested they were.

"Words can't explain (the feeling this morning). I was just waiting to get a phone call from an area code I didn't know. As soon as I picked it up and he said it was Jerry Jones I thought it was my agent playing around with me. Once I recognized him my heart jumped into my throat."

Outside linebackers drafted (through Round 4)
Round 1, pick 4 (#4): Aaron Curry, Wake Forest
Round 1, pick 15 (#15): Brian Cushing, Southern Cal
Round 1, pick 26 (#26): Clay Matthews, Southern Cal
Round 2, pick 13 (#45): Clint Sintim, Virginia
Round 3, pick 5 (#69): Jason Williams, Western Illinois
Round 3, pick 12 (#76): DeAndre Levy, Wisconsin
Round 3, pick 33 (#97): Tyrone McKenzie, South Florida


Leathernecks in the NFL Draft
Jason Williams is the 34th Leatherneck selected in the NFL Draft, and the 29th under the league's current format. The Leathernecks did have a first-round draft pick (Leroy Jackson) is 1962, but Williams is now the school's highest pick in the modern era. Don Greco was the No. 72 pick in the third round of the 1981 draft.

By Athletics Media Services

Posted By: WIU Athletics (SID@wiu.edu)
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