Sunday, April 18, 1999
3 Buckeyes go in first round
The Associated Press
A year after Ohio State players were passed over in the entire NFL draft, there was a scarlet-and-gray hue to Saturday's first round.
“We were a very talented team this year,” cornerback Antoine Winfield said after being taken by Buffalo with the No.23 pick. “I'm sure in the next few rounds there'll be more Ohio State players going.”
Wide receiver David Boston became the 50th Buckeye since 1938 taken in the first round of the draft when Arizona selected him with the No.8 pick. Linebacker Andy Katzenmoyer, projected as high as No.12 by some draftniks, had to wait until New England took him at No.28.
“Andy's a very bright guy and is smart enough to realize he's going with a winning organization,” said Katzenmoyer's agent, Neil Cornrich. “More important to Andy Katzenmoyer than anything is being a part of a winning team. The teams that draft very early generally do so for a reason — they don't win. And Andy's game is all about winning. So he's thrilled to death to be going to the Patriots.”
The three first-round picks matched the second-best showing ever by Ohio State players. In 1971, John Brockington (Green Bay), Leo Hayden (Minnesota), Jack Tatum (Oakland) and Tim Anderson (San Francisco) were picked in the first round.
It marked the fifth time that three Buckeyes were taken in the opening round — including three times in the last five years.
Boston and Katzenmoyer became the 11th and 12th Ohio State underclassmen to be taken in the last eight NFL drafts. Ten of the 12 have gone in the first round.
The 6-foot-3, 215-pound Boston said he couldn't have hoped for anything better.
“The first thing that popped into my head was I knew it was a great situation,” he said from draft headquarters in New York City. “I know I've got a young quarterback; I know I'm playing on grass and out in that warm sun.”
He joins an Arizona team on which he already has a couple of friends — former Ohio State teammate Ty Howard and starting quarterback Jake Plummer.
The Humble, Texas, native also joins his father, Byron Boston, in the NFL. The older Boston is an NFL official. League officials said they had never encountered such a situation before.
“I think the way they've done it now, one preseason game is allowed because the situation is so unique,” said Alicia Boston, David's sister and also his agent. “But no regular-season games, of course.”
David Boston set or tied 12 Ohio State records during his three seasons, including his 191 career receptions, 2,855 yards receiving and 34 touchdown catches.
Winfield, a 5-9, 180-pounder from Akron, said he went into the day with few expectations.
“You have to have an open mind on a day like this. It's out of your hands,” he said. “You produce, you play on the field, and they have it on film. Then you have no control after that.”
Winfield, a 5-9, 180-pounder from Akron, was already looking ahead.
“It's a perfect fit, a great situation,” said the winner of the Thorpe Award, emblematic of the best collegiate defensive back. “The Bills are looking for great cornerbacks and I think I fit that type of player.”
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