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The University of Mississippi Athletics
Two Rebels Selected On Day Two Of NFL Draft
4/23/2010 | Football
NEW YORK -- A pair of former Ole Miss Rebels were selected in the 2010 National Football League Draft Friday, as RB-WR Dexter McCluster was the 36th overall pick by the Kansas City Chiefs in the second round and OL John Jerry was the 73rd pick by the Miami Dolphins in the third round.
McCluster is the second Rebel drafted by the Chiefs in the past five years, as offensive guard Tre' Stallings was a seventh-round choice of KC in 2006.
The last time an Ole Miss running back was taken so high was Deuce McAllister's selection with the 23rd overall pick of the 2001 draft. A Rebel wide receiver had never been chosen in the first or second rounds before.
"I'm glad to be a Kansas City Chief, and I'm glad to be back in red; Ole Miss red and now Kansas City Chief red," McCluster said. "Mini-camp starts Thursday, and the coaches said to be ready to work. You know I'll be ready."
A native of Largo, Fla., McCluster finished No. 2 on the Ole Miss career all-purpose yardage list with 4,089 and seventh among the all-time Rebel rushers with 1,955 yards. The two-time All-SEC honoree is just the second back-to-back offensive MVP in the 74-year history of the Cotton Bowl Classic, joining SMU's Doak Walker in 1948-49.
McCluster earned first team All-America honors in 2009, when he became the first player in SEC history with 1,000 rushing yards (1,169) and 500 receiving yards (520) in the same season. It marked the second-highest rushing total in Ole Miss history.
McCluster was a two-time SEC Player of the Week as a senior and was the National Player of the Week for his performance against Tennessee. He notched school records of 282 rushing yards and 324 all-purpose yards, and his four rushing touchdowns tied for the second-most in school history.
"I'm really excited for Dexter," said Ole Miss head coach Houston Nutt. "Kansas City has gotten an excellent person who will be outstanding in the weight room, on the practice field, in the lockerroom and on gameday. This is a special young man who inspires his teammates to achieve at a high level."
Paving the way for McCluster was Jerry, who started 46 games over his four years in the Red and Blue. A two-time All-SEC honoree, Jerry blocked for three 1,000-yard individual rushing seasons, including BenJarvus Green-Ellis in 2006 and 2007.
A Batesville, Miss., native and brother of 2009 first-round pick Peria Jerry of Atlanta, John was a first team All-American in 2009, as he helped the Rebel offense rank second in the SEC and 14th in the nation in fewest sacks allowed (17). The Rebels finished fourth in the conference in sacks allowed in 2008 (20), while ranking second in rushing (186.5 ypg).
"I'm really excited about the great opportunity I am getting with the Dolphins," Jerry said. "It's a blessing to be able to keep playing this great game. I'm looking forward to next week's mini-camp."
Jerry is the eighth Rebel draftee all-time by the Dolphins and first since another offensive lineman, Todd Wade, was a second-round choice in 2000. It marks the 10th Ole Miss offensive lineman drafted in the last 11 years.
"I told Bill Parcells that Miami was fortunate to get John in the third round," Nutt said. "They are getting an excellent football player. The Dolphins coaches had John in the Senior Bowl and loved his personality, tremendous work ethic and his great feet."
McCluster is the second Rebel drafted by the Chiefs in the past five years, as offensive guard Tre' Stallings was a seventh-round choice of KC in 2006.
The last time an Ole Miss running back was taken so high was Deuce McAllister's selection with the 23rd overall pick of the 2001 draft. A Rebel wide receiver had never been chosen in the first or second rounds before.
"I'm glad to be a Kansas City Chief, and I'm glad to be back in red; Ole Miss red and now Kansas City Chief red," McCluster said. "Mini-camp starts Thursday, and the coaches said to be ready to work. You know I'll be ready."
A native of Largo, Fla., McCluster finished No. 2 on the Ole Miss career all-purpose yardage list with 4,089 and seventh among the all-time Rebel rushers with 1,955 yards. The two-time All-SEC honoree is just the second back-to-back offensive MVP in the 74-year history of the Cotton Bowl Classic, joining SMU's Doak Walker in 1948-49.
McCluster earned first team All-America honors in 2009, when he became the first player in SEC history with 1,000 rushing yards (1,169) and 500 receiving yards (520) in the same season. It marked the second-highest rushing total in Ole Miss history.
McCluster was a two-time SEC Player of the Week as a senior and was the National Player of the Week for his performance against Tennessee. He notched school records of 282 rushing yards and 324 all-purpose yards, and his four rushing touchdowns tied for the second-most in school history.
"I'm really excited for Dexter," said Ole Miss head coach Houston Nutt. "Kansas City has gotten an excellent person who will be outstanding in the weight room, on the practice field, in the lockerroom and on gameday. This is a special young man who inspires his teammates to achieve at a high level."
Paving the way for McCluster was Jerry, who started 46 games over his four years in the Red and Blue. A two-time All-SEC honoree, Jerry blocked for three 1,000-yard individual rushing seasons, including BenJarvus Green-Ellis in 2006 and 2007.
A Batesville, Miss., native and brother of 2009 first-round pick Peria Jerry of Atlanta, John was a first team All-American in 2009, as he helped the Rebel offense rank second in the SEC and 14th in the nation in fewest sacks allowed (17). The Rebels finished fourth in the conference in sacks allowed in 2008 (20), while ranking second in rushing (186.5 ypg).
"I'm really excited about the great opportunity I am getting with the Dolphins," Jerry said. "It's a blessing to be able to keep playing this great game. I'm looking forward to next week's mini-camp."
Jerry is the eighth Rebel draftee all-time by the Dolphins and first since another offensive lineman, Todd Wade, was a second-round choice in 2000. It marks the 10th Ole Miss offensive lineman drafted in the last 11 years.
"I told Bill Parcells that Miami was fortunate to get John in the third round," Nutt said. "They are getting an excellent football player. The Dolphins coaches had John in the Senior Bowl and loved his personality, tremendous work ethic and his great feet."
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