University of Minnesota (UM) Golden Gophers Football Players Taken in 2010 NFL Draft – 2 Selected

The University of Minnesota (UM) Golden Gophers had two football players selected in the 2010 NFL Draft that was held in April at Radio City Music Hall in NYC. The two men from the football program at the school selected by National Football League franchises are:

• Eric Decker (wide receiver) – taken with the 87th overall pick in the 3rd round by the Denver Broncos
• Nathan Triplett (linebacker) – selected as the 167th players taken in the draft and going to the Minnesota Vikings with a fifth round pick

Eric Decker was a fan favorite at the wide receiver position for fans in the Minneapolis area during his college playing days. The 6’3″ 217 pound player was originally born in 1987 in Cold Spring, Minnesota and in addition to excelling on the grid iron is also an outstanding baseball player.

Eric was chosen in the 39th round of the 2008 Major League Baseball Draft by the Milwaukee Brewers and as a result of not signing with the Brewers he was selected again in the 2009 Major League Baseball draft (this time by the Twins in the 27th round). Eric Decker has the unique honor of having been drafted by three different professional sports teams (Brewers, Twins, Broncos) in three consecutive years (2008,2009, and 2010).

After trading Brandon Marshall, their best wide receiver, to the Miami Dolphins the Denver Broncos are in need of a new receiving threat. Young Broncos head coach Josh McDaniels (age 34) hopes that Eric Decker and his first round quarterback selection, Tim Tebow, will prove to be a formidable offensive tandem for years to come in the mile high city.

Nathan Triplett is a 6’3″ 250 linebacker originally from Maple Plain, Minnesota who plans on wearing number 58 for the Minnesota Vikings next year. Nathan is slated to join a franchise that has strung together a recent secession of winning seasons over the past few years.

Led by quarterback Brett Favre and star running back Adrian Peterson the Vikings came up one game short of advancing to the Super Bowl following the 2009 regular season and lost to eventual Super Bowl XLV champions the New Orleans Saints in the NFC Championship game. Vikings head coach Brad Childress hopes that the addition of young motivated talent like he sees in Nathan Triplett will be the boost that the program needs to get over the hump and take the next step by making it all the way to the Super Bowl.

write by Jethro