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The University of Mississippi Athletics
Three Rebels Follow Manning As Second Day NFL Draft Picks
4/25/2004 | Football
April 25, 2004
OXFORD, Miss. - Day two of the National Football League Draft was a good one for Ole Miss players as offensive tackle Stacy Andrews, cornerback Von Hutchins, and defensive end Charlie Anderson were all selected, joining quarterback Eli Manning -- the first overall pick on Saturday -- as Rebels getting a chance to play at the next level.
Andrews, a 6-5 ?, 330 pounder from Camden, Ark., was selected by the Cincinnati Bengals in the fourth round and was the 123rd overall pick in this year's draft. He is the brother of Arkansas offensive tackle Shawn Andrews, who was selected in the first round Saturday by the Philadelphia Eagles.
A 5-11, 184 pounder from Natchez, Miss., Hutchins was picked by the Indianapolis Colts in the sixth round as the 173rd overall pick, while Anderson, a 6-4, 240 pounder from Jackson, Miss., went to the Houston Texans, also in the sixth round, as the 200th overall selection.
"It feels real good," Andrews said of being drafted by the Bengals. "All the hard work has paid off and I'm excited about getting started."
"I'm really happy for Stacy and his family," Ole Miss head coach David Cutcliffe said. "I'm sure he will take advantage of this opportunity. He's a very talented player."
Andrews, who didn't come out for football at Ole Miss until the 2002 season when he was redshirted, saw limited action in five games last fall. His most extensive play came at Auburn when the Rebels were hit by a rash of injuries during the contest won 24-20 by Ole Miss.
Playing right tackle in that game at Auburn, Andrews displayed his pro potential in the fourth quarter when he was on the field as Manning engineered a 10-play, 80-yard scoring march that took 4:41 off the clock and paved the way for the Rebels to defeat the Tigers.
Ole Miss got its winning points when Brandon Jacobs scored from the one, a play which made the end zone behind a big push from the offensive line and right off an Andrews block. That performance earned him the Quarterback Club's Trench Player of the Week.
Andrews saw his first collegiate action in the 59-14 win over Louisiana-Monroe and then played against Arkansas State, South Carolina, Auburn, and Mississippi State.
"I owe so much to Coach (John) Latina," Stacy said. "He really worked hard with me to teach me the right way to play in the offensive line. He taught me the techniques needed for an offensive lineman. I love the guy."
Andrews said he never had any thoughts of playing professional football when he first came out for the sport at Ole Miss. However, after his redshirt season and when he started logging more playing time during his senior campaign, Andrews started thinking professional football just might be in his future.
"As the season went on, I kinda had a feeling that pro football might be a possibility," Andrews said. "I've been blessed and I'm ready to get in the Cincinnati system and learn everything. I had a great experience at Ole Miss and wouldn't have changed anything."
As a track athlete at Ole Miss, Andrews holds the school record for the indoor weight throw (68-3.5), outdoor hammer throw (201-7), and discus (188-5). He earned indoor All-America honors as a senior by placing fifth in the weight throw at the NCAA Indoor Championships, and outdoor All-America when he finished sixth in the discus at the 2003 NCAA Outdoor Championships.
Andrews didn't play football in high school, but earned three letters in both track and basketball. In track, he was the state champion in the discus as a senior.
Hutchins earned for letters during his career at Ole Miss, starting 34 of 46 games and ended his time as a Rebel with 225 tackles, including 139 solo stops. He also had 10 career pass interceptions, which ranks in a seventh place tie for most interceptions in school history.
"The Lord has blessed me with athletic ability and the intelligence to play this game," Hutchins said. "I'm grateful to the Colts organization for giving me this opportunity to play for a team just one step away from getting to the Super Bowl. I'm also excited about getting to play with another Manning (Peyton). I'm going to get up there and work hard to fight for a position."
"We're excited and happy for Von and his family," Cutcliffe said. "He is a hard working, talented player and we wish him well as he begins the process of playing in the NFL."
Anderson started all 13 games last season at right defensive end and was credited with 54 total tackles. He led the Rebels with 13.5 tackles for losses (-81 yards), forced two fumbles to tie for the team high, had nine QB pressures, and added two pass break-ups. He was selected as the team's Most Dedicated Player in 2003.
During his four years at Ole Miss, Anderson started 31 of 48 games played and had 127 career tackles, including 80 solo hits. He was credited with 27 tackles for losses, which went for a minus 112 yards, and also had 12.5 QB sacks and 22 QB pressures.
"It's hard to express what I'm feeling," Anderson said. "I really didn't expect to get drafted and it was looking like my best bet was to go the free agent route. When Houston called, I was so excited that I could hardly talk. The Lord has blessed me to put me in this situation. I have to work hard and be ready for mini-camp."
"Charlie is a very versatile athlete who was a great leader for us," Cutcliffe said. "We congratulate Charlie and his family and hope this is the beginning of a long pro career."
The selection of Manning, Andrews, Hutchins, and Anderson marked the most Ole Miss players to be selected in a single NFL draft since four Rebels were picked in 1995. In that draft, Jeff Miller (Green Bay), Alundis Brice (Dallas), Roell Preston (Atlanta), and Norman Hand (Miami) were chosen. Hand, a nine-year veteran, is still in the league and recently signed with the New York Giants.
The most Ole Miss players drafted in one year was 11 in 1960 when the National Football League and American Football League both had drafts. Marvin Terrell, Ken Kirk, Robert Khayat, and Bobby Ray Franklin were drafted by both leagues. Larry Grantham, Johnny Brewer, and George Blair were also picked by NFL teams, giving the Rebs seven players chosen by that league, while Billy Brewer, Charlie Flowers, Don Churchwell, and Billy Lott were chosen by the AFL.
