Three Huskers Selected in NFL Draft

Three Nebraska players were selected on Sunday during the second day of the 2008 NFL Draft. Cornerback Zack Bowman and offensive lineman Carl Nicks were both taken in the fifth round, while linebacker Bo Ruud was selected in the sixth round.

Bowman was the first Husker selected in the draft, as the Chicago Bears chose the 6-2, 200-pound cornerback with the seventh pick of the fifth round (No. 142 overall). Bowman played in 22 games with nine starts during his two-year Husker career and had 20 pass breakups and three interceptions, along with 56 career tackles. Bowman's selection marks the 11th time in the last 15 years Nebraska has had at least one defensive back selected in the NFL Draft.

Nicks became the second Husker selected when he was chosen by the New Orleans Saints with the 164th overall pick in the fifth round. The 6-5, 330-pound Nicks earned second-team All-Big 12 honors as a senior when he helped the Nebraska offense rank in the top 10 nationally in both total offense and passing offense. Nicks started 11 games at left tackle in 2007 and played in 22 games over the past two seasons. The Salinas, Calif., native is the first Nebraska offensive lineman drafted since center Josh Sewell was taken in the sixth round of the 2004 draft.

Ruud was selected in the sixth round (No. 197 overall) by the AFC Champion New England Patriots. Ruud's selection comes after a highly productive Nebraska career that included 216 career tackles, 25 tackles for loss, four fumble recoveries and five interceptions. Ruud played in 46 career games and earned first-team All-Big 12 honors in 2006, while twice being named an honorable-mention all-conference performer. Ruud's selection marked the seventh time in the past 10 seasons Nebraska has had at least one linebacker selected in the NFL Draft. Bo Ruud continues a family history with the NFL Draft. His father, Tom, was a first-round NFL selection of the Buffalo Bills in 1975, while older brother, Barrett, was selected in the second round by Tampa Bay in 2005.

The three selections marks the 39th straight season Nebraska has had at least three players picked in the NFL Draft.