Franklin, Rucker Go In Fourth Round of 2008 NFL Draft
4/27/2008 12:00:00 AM | Football
April 27, 2008
Columbia, Mo. -
Former University of Missouri standouts Will Franklin (WR - St. Louis, Mo.) and Martin Rucker (TE - St. Joseph, Mo.) were taken in the fourth round Sunday of the 2008 NFL Draft, marking the first time since 1984 that two Tigers have gone in the fourth round or higher.
Franklin was the first to go, as he was selected with the sixth pick of the fourth round (pick #105 overall) by the Kansas City Chiefs. He becomes the first Tiger selected by the Chiefs since the late Ernest Blackwell was chosen in the seventh round by K.C. in the 1998 draft.
Rucker was taken just six picks later by the Browns, with the 12th pick of the fourth round, as the #111 overall pick of the draft. Rucker, a consensus first-team All-American in 2007, becomes the first Tiger drafted by Cleveland since 1968, when tackle Mike Wempe was taken in the fifth round that year.
The last time MU had two players taken in the fourth round or higher was 1984, when Conrad Goode (New York Giants) and Bobby Bell (New York Jets) went in the fourth round as the number 87 and 91 picks overall, respectively.
This marks the fourth straight year that Mizzou has had representation in the NFL Draft. In 2007, DE Brian Smith was taken in the fourth round by Jacksonville, after 2006 saw QB Brad Smith (4th round, New York Jets) and Tony Palmer (7th round, St. Louis Rams) selected. In 2005, three Tigers were taken - Atiyyah Ellison (3rd round, Carolina Panthers), the late Damien Nash (5th round, Tennessee Titans) and C.J. Mosley (6th round, Minnesota Vikings). The two players taken in this year's draft ups the total under Gary Pinkel to 10 in his seven seasons at Mizzou.
Here's a look at the last five Tigers to be drafted by the Kansas City Chiefs and the Cleveland Browns...
Kansas City Chiefs
Year Tiger, Pos. Round Pick Overall
2008 Will Franklin, WR 4 6 105
1998 Ernest Blackwell, RB 7 35 224
1979 Earl Gant, RB 5 2 112
1978 Pete Woods, QB 4 20 104
1976 Henry Marshall, WR 3 19 79
Cleveland Browns
Year Tiger, Pos. Round Pick Overall
2008 Martin Rucker, TE 4 12 111
1968 Mike Wempe, T 5 20 131
1965 Gary Lane, QB 9 13 125
1958 Frank Czapla, T 29 11 348
1952 Junior Wren, B 24 11 288
