Five more area players were taken in the NFL draft Sunday, including one-time Mariner High School product Amon Gordon. The Stanford defensive tackle was taken by the Cleveland Browns in the fifth round.
“It’s been a long time coming for me,” said Gordon, who also played linebacker and defensive end for the Cardinal. “It’s a privilege and an honor to finally achieve a goal I set for myself a long time ago.”
Gordon and teammate Teyo Johnson transferred from Mariner after their junior year, playing one year of high school football in San Diego before enrolling at Stanford together. Both left college with eligibility remaining.
Johnson, a tight end, was selected by the Oakland Raiders in the second round of last year’s draft.
Gordon’s selection marks four consecutive years in which a Mariner High product has been taken in the draft. Gordon follows Johnson (2003 draft), Baltimore return man Lamont Brightful (2002) and former Bengals linebacker Riall Johnson (2001), who is Teyo’s older brother.
A Snohomish County product has been taken in every draft dating back to 2000, when Marysville-Pilchuck graduate Dave Stachelski was selected by the New Orleans Saints.
Four other players from the state were taken Sunday, including University of Washington quarterback Cody Pickett. He was selected in the seventh round by the San Francisco 49ers, who are coached by Everett native Dennis Erickson.
“Two years ago he was the best quarterback in the Pac-10,” Erickson said of Pickett. “He (tore his pectoral muscle as a senior), but when we saw him at his workout, his throwing motion and arm strength were really improved.”
Washington State University had two players selected Sunday: cornerback Jason David (fourth round, Indianapolis) and safety Erik Coleman (fifth round, New York Jets).
All totaled, four UW players were taken in the draft, and three WSU players went.
Kentwood High School product Mike Karney, a fullback at Arizona State, was chosen by the New Orleans Saints in the fifth round.
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