2008 Woodie Awards
NFL Draft selects MIAA stars
Issue date: 5/2/08 Section: Sports
The National Football League drafted two MIAA players for 2008 last weekend at Radio City Music Hall.
The Buffalo Bills selected former Northwest Missouri State RB Xavier Omon in the sixth round as the 179th overall pick, while former Washburn DB/KR Cary Williams went in the seventh round with the 229th selection to the Tennessee Titans.
Omon concluded his collegiate career last season as the first player in NCAA history to rush for 1,500 yards in all four seasons. He led Division II last season with 2,337 rushing yards and became the second player in Division II history to rush for 7,000 yards during a career.
He earned four All-American awards in 2007 and was named the Offensive Player of the Year by D2Football.com, the MIAA Offensive Player of the Year and the Texas vs. The Nation All-Star Game MVP. He holds 32 Northwest game, season, career and postseason records and is the all-time leading rusher in MIAA history.
Omon is the sixth NWMSU Bearcat drafted by the NFL and the first since Dave Tollefson was drafted in the seventh round by the Green Bay Packers in 2006. He is the first MIAA running back taken since Pittsburg State's Ronald Moore went in the fourth round (87th overall) to the then-Phoenix Cardinals in 1993.
Williams was named to the Associated Press Little All-American Team as well as the Daktronics Division II SIDs All-America team and AFCA All-America squad.
Williams was named unanimous first team All-MIAA at defensive back after recording an MIAA-best seven interceptions, including one for a touchdown.
He ranks fifth in Division II interceptions per game. His seven interceptions is the second most for a single-season in WU history.
He returned two kickoffs for TD's, which tied a WU single-season record and is WU career record as well.
Williams' 100-yard kickoff return is tied for the longest return in school history. He finished his career with 94 tackles including 67 solo stops with 11 interceptions.
He is the fourth Ichabod to go in the NFL Draft and second in as many seasons after DT Trey Lewis went to the Atlanta Falcons in the sixth round (185th choice) in 2006. Williams is the first MIAA defensive back to be selected since Missoui Western's John Fisher was selected in the sixth round (170th pick) by the Jacksonville Jaguars.
This marks the third consecutive year the MIAA had two players selected in the NFL Draft, and the six time in the last eight years at least one player from the league has been chosen.
The MIAA was the only NCAA Division II conference to have more than one player selected in the 2008 draft.
The Buffalo Bills selected former Northwest Missouri State RB Xavier Omon in the sixth round as the 179th overall pick, while former Washburn DB/KR Cary Williams went in the seventh round with the 229th selection to the Tennessee Titans.
Omon concluded his collegiate career last season as the first player in NCAA history to rush for 1,500 yards in all four seasons. He led Division II last season with 2,337 rushing yards and became the second player in Division II history to rush for 7,000 yards during a career.
He earned four All-American awards in 2007 and was named the Offensive Player of the Year by D2Football.com, the MIAA Offensive Player of the Year and the Texas vs. The Nation All-Star Game MVP. He holds 32 Northwest game, season, career and postseason records and is the all-time leading rusher in MIAA history.
Omon is the sixth NWMSU Bearcat drafted by the NFL and the first since Dave Tollefson was drafted in the seventh round by the Green Bay Packers in 2006. He is the first MIAA running back taken since Pittsburg State's Ronald Moore went in the fourth round (87th overall) to the then-Phoenix Cardinals in 1993.
Williams was named to the Associated Press Little All-American Team as well as the Daktronics Division II SIDs All-America team and AFCA All-America squad.
Williams was named unanimous first team All-MIAA at defensive back after recording an MIAA-best seven interceptions, including one for a touchdown.
He ranks fifth in Division II interceptions per game. His seven interceptions is the second most for a single-season in WU history.
He returned two kickoffs for TD's, which tied a WU single-season record and is WU career record as well.
Williams' 100-yard kickoff return is tied for the longest return in school history. He finished his career with 94 tackles including 67 solo stops with 11 interceptions.
He is the fourth Ichabod to go in the NFL Draft and second in as many seasons after DT Trey Lewis went to the Atlanta Falcons in the sixth round (185th choice) in 2006. Williams is the first MIAA defensive back to be selected since Missoui Western's John Fisher was selected in the sixth round (170th pick) by the Jacksonville Jaguars.
This marks the third consecutive year the MIAA had two players selected in the NFL Draft, and the six time in the last eight years at least one player from the league has been chosen.
The MIAA was the only NCAA Division II conference to have more than one player selected in the 2008 draft.
Be the first to comment on this story