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And with the 256th pick in the 2006 NFL Draft
By: Jimmy Smith
255 picks later, the draft was done. Owners and coaches could breathe and fans could begin ranting and raving about their respective team’s selections. But some fans were left unhappy. And some players were left back at their college campuses.
One of those players was a highly regarded cornerback from the Mid–American Conference. Dion Byrum was the only chance that the Ohio Bobcats had in this draft. He was tops in the nation in interceptions with six. He even had the game winning interception return in the nail biter against the Pittsburgh Panthers. But the All–American was left behind this year.
Byrum was well decorated during his senior year in Athens. He earned All-American honors from the American Football Coaches Association. Sports Illustrated and the Associated Press also named Dion second-team All-American. His 153 total interception return yardage was second in the nation, while his three defensive touchdowns, including a fumble return against the Northwestern Wildcats, was tops in the country at the conclusion of the regular season.
Dion was not invited to the NFL Combine, but that didn’t keep more and more people around the league from realizing his true football talent. He didn’t let the fact that his invitation to the Combine was more or less “lost in the mail,” affect the way he worked out and prepared for the upcoming draft. And when it came to having his named called on either the 1st or 2nd day of the draft, everyone thought it was a lock.
The experts were even singing the praises of the cornerback from Ohio University.
NFL writer Frank Coyle spoke of Byrum’s readiness to play in the National Football League right away.
“Byrum is a terrific athlete and probably the biggest Division I sleeper available. He has all the components to start in the NFL,” Coyle said. “He is an excellent late-round pick with the talent and toughness to become a fine role player as high-level nickel corner and special teams performer.”
So what happened? Well, his overall speed leaves something to be desired. He ran a 4.39 40-yard dash and recorded a 40-inch vertical at the NFL Combine, but his overall knowledge of the game and ability to see the play before it happens makes him a good pick for teams that use nickel and dime packages. Using those packages will mask his lack of speed. Teams such as the Browns or Bears use said packages and even expressed interest in Byrum. ESPN had the Browns picking him in the 5th or 6th round while Lovie Smith, head coach of the Chicago Bears, even came to see Byrum workout.
Instead the Browns picked another cornerback, DeMario Minter from Georgia, in the fifth round. The Chicago Bears did both select a cornerback and instead addressed their need for a safety with the departure of Mike Green. The Bears used their early 2nd round pick to select Danieal Manning from Abilene Christian.
Again, what happened? Well there is still no definitive answer. The 5 ft 11in cornerback, weighing in at 192 lbs, is now just going to have to wait to be picked up as a post–draft selection. A player coming from a Mid–Major conference is often just going to have to learn to deal with that. Ben Rothlisberger was a Mid– American Conference success story, and face it, that doesn’t happen every day. And its not every day when the nation’s leader in interceptions is left on the couch.
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