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THE PARTY STARTED THURSDAY NIGHT. The Detroit Lions selected Riley Reiff in the first round with pick number 23. Reiff's mom had a feeling about Detroit when prior to the draft she bought a Detroit Lions t-shirt. Reiff became the third Hawkeye in as many years to be a first round draft choice. Iowa joins Alabama as the only two schools that can claim that accomplishment over the same span.
Reiff met before the Detroit media Friday and said he's ready to learn from the veterans. He didn't attend the Draft in New York City as he stayed in Parkston, South Dakota, to be with family. One family member, Reiff's ailing 92 year-old grandfather, was the primary reason Riley wanted to take in the Draft from home.
Reiff says he's "super excited" to be a Lion and it appears the fans are happy to have him too. A poll of SB Nation's Lions blog Pride of Detriot shows 93% of Lions fans are happy with the pick. Reiff joins former Hawkeyes Amari Spievey and Ryan Donahue on their roster.
MIKE DANIELS WAS THE NEXT OFF THE BOARD. We waited until late in the fourth round on Saturday to hear the next Hawkeye name called at the draft. The Green Bay Packers selected Mike Daniels with the 37th pick, 132nd overall. The Packers wanted help with their pass rush and had their "eye on Daniels."
AND THEN THERE WAS ADAM GETTIS. A few picks after Daniels came the Washinton Redskins who selected Adam Gettis. He was the 6th pick of the fifth round, 141 overall. He'll take his athleticism where it fits best, playing for Mike Shanahan in his zone blocking scheme.
AND ALONG CAME SHAUN PRATER. Prater was the next name called in the fifth round. The Cincinnati Bengals grabbed him with the 21st pick (156 overall). He could find a spot on the roster as a nickle back or make his mark on special teams.
THEN, FINALLY THEN MARVIN MCNUTT. It took a lot longer that we Hawk fans expected but Marvin finally got the call in the sixth round. The Eagles drafted McNutt with the 24th pick (194 overall). Like Reiff, McNutt is a popular pick among polled Eagles fans. He said this about falling to the sixth round,
"I definitely dropped a lot farther than expected, but things work in weird ways"
AND JORDAN BERNSTINE WAS PICKED TOO. The Redskins already grabbed Adam Gettis and made it two Hawkeyes in the 7th round when they selected Jordan Bernstine. With the 10th pick, 217th overall, Bernstine became the last Hawkeye selected in the 2012 NFL Draft. In addition to being a special teams contributor Bernstine will have a chance at playing time in the secondary.
TYLER NIELSEN SIGNED A FREE AGENT CONTRACT. Nielsen didn't get drafted but will have a chance to make the roster of the Minnesota Vikings. The Vikings signed Nielsen to a free agent contract following the draft. Former Hawkeye Allen Reisner took a similar path last season and even saw some spot duty with the Vikes.
FOUR OTHER HAWKEYES WILL TRY TO BREAK INTO THE NFL AS FREE AGENTS. Broderick Binns reportedly signed with the Arizona Cardinals. Markus Zusevics and Brad Herman will try to make the Patriots roster. And finally, Eric Guthrie will head to Tampa to try and win the punting duties for the Buccaneers.
FORMER HAWKEYES DEZMAN MOSES AND JEWEL HAMPTON ALSO SIGNED AS FREE AGENTS. Hampton left Southern Illinois early to enter into the NFL Draft. He didn't get his named called over the weekend but will try to make a running back loaded roster in San Francisco. Dezman Moses, who ended up at Tulane, will join Mike Daniels along the defensive line in Green Bay.
Other links:
- Marvin McNutt in the sixth round? Seems curious, no?
- New Lion Riley Reiff, from small town, proves dreams do come true
- Free Press writers grade the Lions' draft
- 41 Big Ten Products selected in 2012 NFL Draft
- Green Bay Packers comfortable with players' backgrounds
- Green Bay Packers draft for defense, developmental QB
- Some surprises, some risks in Bengals draft
- Grading the Philadelphia Eagles Last Four Picks
- Reid On The Day Three Additions
- Redskins Complete Draft By Adding Offensive Line, Secondary Help
- L-W East Grad Gettis Picked by Redskins in NFL Draft
- Vikings nab former Humboldt all-stater
- Bowen Enjoying Return to NBA
- Iowans play it safe with new CyHawk Trophy
- Report: Patriots add UDFA Brad Herman
- Greenway backs financial literacy with Lincoln visit
- NFL Draft: Lions' first-round pick took turns through Aberdeen
- Iowa basketball highlight video
- New facility moves Hawks forward
- Reggie Evans had a night to remember on Sunday
- S.D. town takes pride in Rieff
- Big Ten Championships: Hawkeye men's golfers finish sixth
- Hawkeye baseball drops two of three in Twin Cities
- Roberts: NFL doesn't respect Iowa wideouts
- Iowa Softball Team Blanks Hoosiers on Senior Day