Jets Select Strait

The New York Jets picked Oklahoma cornerback Derrick Strait in the third round of Saturday's National Football League Draft. Strait followed teammates Tommie Harris (first round, Chicago) and Teddy Lehman (second round, Detroit) in hearing his name called on the first day of the draft.

Strait was the 76th player chosen overall.

"Over the last four years, Derrick was our most consistent player," said Oklahoma head coach Bob Stoops. "He made more plays than anybody. For a guy who lined up on one side of the field, as opposed to in the middle, he made more plays all over the field than anyone I've ever coached. It's tough to influence a game from sideline to sideline from the cornerback position, but Derrick did. He has a great feel for the game."

OU in the NFL Draft

A four-year starter at OU, Strait was the winner of the Nagurski Award (top defensive player) and Thorpe Award (top defensive back) in his senior season.

Strait set Oklahoma records with 54 starting assignments and 55 passes broken up during his career. On the latter, he broke the mark of Dallas Cowboys safety Roy WIlliams, the only other player ever to win the Nagurski and Thorpe Awards in the same season.

"Derrick is extremely competitive, one of the most competitive players we've had here," Stoops said.

Strait is the seventh Oklahoma player drafted by the Jets. The other were DB J.C. Watts (eight round, 1981), DB Darrol Ray (second round, 1980), LB Garry Baccus (fifth round, 1974), G Jack Porter (eight round, 1970), LB Carl McAdams (third round AFL, 1967) and DE Rick McCurdy (third round AFL, 1965).

Strait's selection marks the third straight year in which Oklahoma has had a defensive back taken in the draft. In 2002, Williams went to the Cowboys and in 2003 CB Andre Woolfolk went to the Titans. Both Williams and Woolfolk were first-round picks.

"Derrick is another one of those guys who is real solid," said Stoops. "Tommie, Teddy and Derrick all have great character and are just fine people."

Oklahoma was 48-6 with Strait on the field with the 2000 national championship. He also played on teams that won the Rose (2003) and Cotton (2002) Bowls and he was on the 2003 team that dropped a 21-14 decision in the Sugar Bowl to LSU. That game also had the BCS title hanging in the balance.

University of Oklahoma Athletics

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