April 23, 2005
Safety Oshiomogho Atogwe, TE Alex Smith and CB Stanley Wilson were all selected in the third round of the NFL Draft today in New York. It marked the first time since 1993 that the Cardinal had three players taken in the first three rounds of the draft.
Atogwe was the second pick of the third round, the 66th player chosen overall by the St. Louis Rams. Shortly after his name was called, Smith went to the Tampa Bay Buccaneers with the seventh pick of the third round and 71st overall. The next name called was Wilson, the eighth pick of the third round and 72nd overall to the Detroit Lions.
Atogwe, from Windsor, Ontario, Canada, was a three-year starter for the Cardinal who led the team in tackles from 2002-04. He was twice named to the All-Pac-10 team, was a co-captain of the 2004 Cardianl and was the team's top play-maker on defense the past three years.
Smith (Boulder, Colorado), who became the school's most prolific receiving tight end, was named Second-Team All-American and First-Team All-Pac-10 last season after leading the team with 52 receptions. He set school records for most career receptions for a tight end with 107. Smith was the runnerup for the Mackey Award, presented to the best tight end in the nation.
Wilson, a three-year starter from Carson, California, improved his draft status in the last month with a series of impressive workouts. He had 54 tackles and an interception last season and was named to the All-Pac-10 honorable mention team.
In 1993, Stanford had a first round pick (CB Darrien Gordon), a second round pick (RB Glyn Milburn) and a third round pick (FS John Lynch).
The NFL Draft continues on Sunday with rounds four-seven. Several Cardinal players may have their named called, including LB Jared Newberry, OL Will Svitek, LB David Bergeron, RB Kenneth Tolon and CB Leigh Torrence