Temple's Rodriguez and Whitehead selected in NFL Draft

NEW YORK (4/28/12) – The Chicago Bears selected Temple TE Evan Rodriguez (North Bergen, N.J.) with the 16th pick of the fourth round (111^th pick overall), while the Detroit Lions selected LB Tahir Whitehead (Newark, N.J.) with the third pick of the fifth round (138^th pick overall) of the 2012 National Football League Draft on Saturday afternoon at Radio City Music Hall.

The duo brings Temple’s draftees to three selected in 2012 and the 64th Temple University football player to be selected in the NFL Draft since 1937.  They join RB Bernard Pierce (Ardmore, Pa.) who was selected in the third round last night.

Rodriguez, who played in the East-West Shrine Game, is a two-time first-team All-MAC selection. He played in all 13 games with 12 starts at tight end in 2011. Named to the Mackey Award Watch List, he led the Owls with 479 yards and two touchdowns on 35 receptions. In the win at Maryland, Rodriguez had a career-high 96 yards on five receptions en route to National TE of the Week honors from the National Football Performance Awards.

Rodriguez is the fifth Owl drafted by the Chicago Bears since 1940.

Whitehead, a team captain, was a second-team All-MAC honoree in 2011 and the Defensive MVP of the 2011 Gildan New Mexico Bowl.  He played in all 13 games with 12 starts at Sam linebacker. Named to the Butkus Award Watch List, he finished third in team tackling with 70 tackles, a team-best 13.5 TFL for a loss of 66 yards, five sacks, four forced fumbles, and three fumble recoveries.

Whitehead is the just the second Owl drafted by the Detroit Lions since 1945. Tackle Mike Jarmoluk was a seventh round pick (62nd pick overall).

The trio ties the school record for the most Owls drafted in a single year.  Three Temple Owls were also drafted in 1946, 1975, 1980, and 1987.

Temple opens the 2012 season with Villanova in the fourth annual Mayor’s Cup, sponsored by Dunkin’ Donuts, on Friday, August 31 at Lincoln Financial Field.

Temple football season tickets are on sale now for as low as $99 and can be purchased by calling the Temple Ticket Sales Office at 215-204-8499 or visit www.OwlsTix.com.

TEMPLE’S ALL-TIME NFL DRAFT HISTORY

Year        Rd.      Pick     Player          Name                                          Team                         Pos.

2012            3         21             84          Bernard Pierce                        Ravens                     RB

                      4         16           111          Evan Rodriguez                       Bears                         TE

                      5            3           138          Tahir Whitehead                   Lions                         LB

2011            1         30             30          Muhammad Wilkerson        Jets                            DT

                      2         22             54          Jaiquawn Jarrett                     Eagles                       DB

2008            3            8             72          Terrance Knighton                 Jaguars                     DT

2005            5         30           166          Rian Wallace                             Steelers                   LB

2003            4         20           117          Dan Klecko                                Patriots                    DT

                      7         23           237          Dave Yovanovits                     Jets                            OT

2002            7         27           238          Raheem Brock                         Eagles                       DE

2001            4         16           111          Mathias Nkwenti                   Steelers                   OT

1997            4         32           128          Alshermond Singleton         Buccaneers             LB

1996            2         27             57          Lance Johnstone                    Raiders                     LB

                      6         20           187          Jon Clark                                    Bears                         OT

1994            2            2             31          Tré Johnson                             Redskins                  OL

1989            8         25           220          Todd McNair                            Chiefs                       RB

1988            3         23             78          Ralph Jarvis                               Bears                         DE

                      8         18           211          Mike Hinnant                           Steelers                   TE

1987            1         19             19          Paul Palmer                              Chiefs                       RB

                      6            5           145          Willie Marshall                         Packers                    WR

                   11         24           303          Larry Brewton                         Browns                     DB

1986            1            9                9          John Rienstra                           Steelers                   OG

                      6         20           158          Lloyd Yancey                            Cowboys                 OG

1985            3            5             61          Anthony Young                       Colts                          DB

1984            7            5           173          Kevin Ross                                Chiefs                       DB

1983            8         13           209          Mike McClearn                       Browns                     OG

1982          10            9           260          Gerald Lucear                          Vikings                      WR

1981          12         26           330          Mark McCants                         Falcons                     DB

1980            8         25           218          Mike Curcio                              Eagles                       LB

                      9            6           227          Mark Bright                              Colts                          RB

                   12         23           328          Wiley Pitts                                 Oilers                        WR

1979            8         26           218          Robert Brewer                        Chiefs                       OG

                   11         22           297          Zach Dixon                                Broncos                    RB

1977            6            5           144          Joe Klecko                                 Jets                            DT

                      6         25           164          Jim Cooper                               Cowboys                 OT

1976            3         32             92          Don Bitterlich                           Seahawks                K

1975            6         24           154          Harry Hynoski                          Browns                     RB

                      7            4           160          Steve Joachim                         Colts                          QB

                   17         13           429          Garry Webb                             Eagles                       DE

1973            4         19             97          Bill Singletary                           Chargers                  LB

                   10         14           248          Nick Mike-Mayer                   Falcons                     K

1970            9         15           223          Chris Fletcher                          Chargers                  DB

1969            8            3           185          Jim Callahan                             Falcons                     WR

1967          14         11           352          Mike Stromberg                     Jets                            LB

1966          20         13           303          Joe Petro                                   Browns                     QB

1958          30            2           351          Jim Thompson                         Eagles                       E

1955          18            7           212          Joe Stout                                   Giants                       B

                   29         12           349          Ted (Tex) Robinson               Browns                     B

1954          19         10           227          Bob Edmiston                          49ers                         T

1953            9            4           101          Pat Sarnese                              Steelers                   T

1952          24            4           281          Joe Tyrrell                                 Eagles                       G

1948            6            4             39          Phil Slosburg                            Yanks                        B

1946          15            4           134          Johnny Timko                          Bears                         C

                   19            2           172          Jack Burns                                 Yanks                        B

                   19            3           173          Bill Cloud                                    Steelers                   T

1945            7            8             62          Mike Jarmoluk                        Lions                          T

1944          19            9           195          Jimmy Woodside                   Steelers                   C

1943          22            4           204          George Sutch                          Cardinals                  B

                   27            3           253          Al Drulis                                      Cardinals                  G

1942          16            1           141          Andy Tomasic                          Steelers                   B

1940            5            7             37          Ed Kolman                                 Bears                         T

                   12         10           110          Ed McGee                                 Giants                       G

1937            9            6             86          Bill Docherty                             Redskins                  T