Nicholls State's Jacob Bender Taken in NFL Draft

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April 29, 2007

THIBODAUX, La. - Former Nicholls State Colonel standout left tackle Jacob Bender was taken by the New York Jets in the sixth round (177th overall pick) of the 2007 NFL Draft on Sunday. Bender, who did not participate in the NFL Combine, is the first offensive lineman to be drafted in the NFL in school history.

In 1984, Ronald Motton was drafted to the Houston Gamblers and Jay Pennison was drafted by the Jacksonville Bulls, but those two teams are formerly of the USFL. Pennison went on to play for the Houston Oilers.

Bender is also the first Colonel taken in the NFL draft since Chris Thompson was drafted in the fifth round by the Jacksonville Jaguars in 2004. Thompson, who was the 110th overall pick in 2004, was named to the 2002 Sports Network/FCS I-AA All-America Third Team and the National Weekly Football Gazette All-America Second Team in 2003.

"This is such a great honor for Jacob because he has worked really hard to have this opportunity," said head coach Jay Thomas. "I know his teammates are very happy for him and the coaches are very proud that he will get to play at the next level. This is great for our program and it shows that guys can still play in the triple-option offense and have a chance to play on Sundays."

Bender was the first Southland Conference player to get drafted in the 2007 NFL Draft, and is only the Jets third pick in the draft. The Mayo, Maryland native was a two-time All-Southland Conference First Team selection for Nicholls where he helped lead the Colonels to their first ever SLC Championship in 2005.

In his senior campaign in 2006, Bender was named to the 2006 Sports Network/FCS I-AA All-America Third Team and selected to the College Sporting News Fabulous 50 FSN All-Star team. He also participated in the Magnolia Gridiron All-Star Classic that was held in Jackson, Miss.

During his four year career at Nicholls, Bender started 31 career games at Nicholls while playing in a total of 42 contests in a Colonel uniform.

Bender will participate in the New York Jets' Rookie Mini-Camp May 12-14. The camp will be held on the campus of Hofstra University in Long Island, New York. Selected veterans of the Jets will take part in the camp as well.

CENTRAL ARKANSAS

Former University of Central Arkansas Bear and Memphis native Jacob Ford won't have far to go for the next step in his football career.

Ford, a 6-foot-5, 250-pound defensive end, was drafted Sunday by the Tennessee Titans in the sixth round of the 2007 NFL Draft. Former UCA offensive lineman Justin Jones of Harrison signed a free-agent contract with the New York Giants on Sunday night and safety Jasper Johnson of Pine Bluff signed with the Dallas Cowboys.

Ford was the 204th overall pick in the draft and was the only defensive end selected by the Titans. His selection in the sixth round is the highest ever for a football player from UCA. The previous highest selections were wide receiver Tyree Davis in the seventh round in 1993 and running back Nakita Robertson in the seventh round in 1984.

"It really just unbelievable,' said Ford, who was at the home of his twin brothers Jamal and Jamil in Houston when he got the mid-afternoon call Sunday. "Four years ago I was working loading trucks and now here I am going to play in the NFL. I've truly been blessed.

"I actually got the call about two picks before they picked me, so I knew it was coming,' Ford said, amid a loud celebration at a Houston area restaurant. "I actually didn't really get to see my name come up on the television because I was on the phone with Coach Jeff Fisher and (defensive line) Coach (Jim) Washburn. But I know my family all went crazy when it came up.'

Ford said he knew the Titans had been interested in him in the days leading up to the draft. He said Sunday he couldn't be happier with the team that chose him.

"I knew they were looking at me because we had talked a lot in the past few weeks,' he said. "And to get to play in Nashville is great. That's just about three hours from Memphis, just a hop, skip and jump for my family. That couldn't have worked out any better.'

Ford played his high school football just down the road from Nashville at Memphis Melrose High School and then signed with the University of Memphis in 2001. He was named to the Conference USA All-Freshman team after playing in 10 games and recording 20 tackles. Ford then sat out for two years before transferring to Holmes Community College in 2004 where he earned All-State honors in Mississippi.

Ford followed that with an All-American career at defensive end for UCA, recording 32.5 career tackles for loss and 17 sacks in his two years at the school. As a junior, he had 54 tackles and ranked second in the Gulf South Conference with nine sacks and 17 tackles for loss. He also had three fumble recoveries, returning one for a touchdown.

As a senior in UCA's first season as an NCAA Division I-AA team, Ford was named a first-team All-American by College Sports Report, posting 48 tackles, eight sacks, 15.5 tackles for loss and three forced fumbles.

"I'm just very happy for Jacob and his family,' said UCA head coach Clint Conque, "and then I'm happy for UCA and Central Arkansas football. Jacob has been a tremendous ambassador during his time here, very focused, very driven. He's been a very team-oriented player.

"I think he handled all the preseason attention, the attention during the season and all the stuff leading up to the draft, he handled all of it with a very high level of maturity. He was very focused on having a great senior year and I think that was what made the difference.'

Ford was invited to the NFL Combine in February, where he ran a 4.68 in the 40-yard dash, the second fastest among defensive ends. He also played in the 2007 IntaJuice North-South All-Star Classic and was invited to the 2007 Magnolia Gridiron Classic.

The Titans signed 10 players in the two-day draft, from schools such as Texas, Florida State, Purdue, Arizona, Mississippi State and Texas Tech. Ford was one of four defensive players selected, but the only one at end or outside linebacker, a position he could transition to in the NFL.

Ford was one of only two players from the Southland Conference selected in the seven rounds of the NFL Draft. The other was Nicholls State offensive lineman Jacob Bender, who went to the New York Jets, also in the sixth round.

"I think what this says about our football program,' Conque said, "is that you can be drafted into the National Football League from our program here at UCA. The credit goes to our players, our assistant coaches, our player development program. I think this sets a bar for the current players in our program, that if you want to have a chance to play on the next level, you can come here to UCA and work and develop as a total player and then have a chance to make that dream come true.'

Jones, a 6-6, 304-pound offensive tackle, was a four-year starter for the Bears who came to UCA as an walk-on after a stellar career for the Goblins. He was an All-Gulf South Conference first-team selection in 2005 and was also an All-Academic selection.

"Justin is just a great story,' said Conque. "He came in as a freshman and started four years. He worked his tail off, in the classroom and on the field. He's a smart, mature young man. He's got his degree, he's married and has a daughter. I think he has a great future ahead of him in the NFL.'

Johnson, 6-2, 220, is another four-year starter at UCA who played at Dollarway High School. He was an All-GSC selection in 2005.

"Jasper had a great career at UCA and I thought he would get a chance to play professionally,' said Conque. "He is a great all-around athlete who works hard at the game. He has been another outstanding representative for UCA during his career.'

MCNEESE STATE
McNeese State all-conference and all-Louisiana offensive lineman Brent Pousson has signed a free agent contract with the Cleveland Browns.

A native of Iota and a three year starter for the Cowboys, Pousson said Sunday that Cleveland was the best fit for him.

"It offers the best situation for me to make the team," he said, noting that Cleveland would try him at right offensive tackle.

"This is a great opportunity for me to keep playing."

He said that he was told by Cleveland officials that he would be the only free agent offensive lineman they would sign.

The 6-4, 305 pounder played this past season as a graduate student and is pursuing a master degree in agriculture-business. He played on two Southland Conference championship teams with the Cowboys and was the team's top scholar athlete.

He's the lastest Cowboy to sign a free agent contract with the NFL. Two seasons ago B. J. Sams signed as a free agent with Baltimore and has gone on to become a standout kick returner and wide receiver for the Ravens.