Three Wolverines Selected on Opening Day of NFL Draft
4/26/2003 12:00:00 AM | Football
NEW YORK, N.Y. -- Former University of Michigan tight end Bennie Joppru (Wayzata, Minn./Minnetonka HS), linebacker Victor Hobson (Mt. Laurel, N.J./St. Joseph's Prep, Pa.) and running back B.J. Askew (Cincinnati, Ohio/Colerain HS) were selected Saturday (April 26) during the first day of the 68th annual National Football League Draft held at The Theater at Madison Square Garden in New York. Joppru and Hobson were selected in the second round while Askew earned a third-round nod.
Joppru was the second tight end selected in the 2003 draft, going to the Houston Texans with the 41st overall pick. He became the first U-M player to join the second-year Houston Texans with his second-round selection. Joppru set a Michigan tight end record with 53 receptions for 579 yards and five touchdowns as a senior. A Pro Football Weekly All-America first team selection last year, Joppru caught 85 passes for 800 yards and scored eight TDs during his career.
Hobson was plucked off the board 12 spots after Joppru by the New York Jets in the second round. The 53rd overall selection, Hobson will move across the border from New Jersey to New York. Hobson led the Wolverines with a career-best 99 tackles last season, including 17 tackles for loss and six sacks. He finished his career with 277 tackles, 47 TFLs, 15 sacks, five pass breakups, three fumbles recoveries and two interceptions.
The New York Jets made Askew the 85th overall pick and second Wolverine to join the organization during the draft. U-M's Bo Schembechler Most Valuable Player in 2002, Askew played both tailback and fullback, gained 568 rushing yards on 110 carries, caught 36 passes for 280 yards and scored seven touchdowns (six rushing). He set a U-M running back record with 777 receiving yards on 83 receptions. Askew rushed 343 times for 1,580 yards and scored 17 rushing touchdowns during his career.
The 2003 draft concludes with rounds four through seven tomorrow (Sunday, April 27, 11 a.m.) on ESPN.
N O T E S
Joppru becomes the sixth former U-M tight end currently in the NFL. He joins Mark Campbell (Buffalo), Tony McGee (Dallas), Jay Riemersma (Pittsburgh), Aaron Shea (Cleveland) and Jerame Tuman (Pittsburgh).
Hobson is the sixth former U-M linebacker currently in the league, joining Larry Foote (Pittsburgh), Ian Gold (Denver), Tommy Hendricks (Miami), Dhani Jones (New York Giants) and Sam Sword (Indianapolis).
Askew joins Anthony Thomas (Chicago) and Tyrone Wheatley (Oakland) as former Wolverine running backs in the NFL.
Contact: David Ablauf (734) 763-4423
