NFL Canada: Kaczur and Atogwe taken in third round

April 24, 2005

Kaczur and Atogwe taken in third round

From the Canadian Press:

According to the Canadian Press, Canadians O.J. Atogwe and Nick Kaczur could sleep sound Saturday night.

Atogwe and Kaczur were both selected in the third round of the NFL draft Saturday. Atogwe, a safety with the Stanford Cardinal from Windsor, Ont., was taken 66th overall by the St. Louis Rams while Kaczur, a six-foot-four, 320-pound offensive lineman with the Toledo Rockets from Brantford, Ont., went 100th overall to the Super Bowl-champion New England Patriots.

After no Canadians were selected in last year's draft, Atogwe had the distinction of being the first Canuck taken Saturday.

"I'm very excited," Atogwe told the Canadian Press from his family's residence in Windsor. "It's definitely a dream come true and something I've been waiting for all my life.

"I knew St. Louis was one of the teams that was interested in me because I had spoken to them both at the Senior Bowl as well as at the NFL combine."

According to the Canadian Press Atogwe certainly fills a need for the Rams, who have Adam Archuleta as the only true safety under contract. Archuleta's status is uncertain, too, after he suffered a back injury last season. Atogwe was the fifth safety selected in the draft.

"I plan on going there and showing them what I can do and play to the best of my ability," he told CP. "I'm going to play hard and lobby the coaches for playing time."

Kaczur was also drafted in the third round. The Super Bowl champion New England Patriots took the offensive lineman from Brampton, Ontario with their third selection.

According to CP the selections of Atogwe and Kaczur wasn't surprising. Both came into the draft clearly as the top Canadian prospects and were projected to be selected anywhere between the third and sixth rounds.

Atogwe and Kaczur become the 21st and 22nd Canadians have been taken in the NFL draft since 1976, with three - offensive linemen Mike Schad of Ottawa (Queen's) and Tony Mandarich of Oakville, Ont., (Michigan State) and running back Tim Biakabutuka of Montreal (Michigan) - having gone in the first round.


April 24, 2005 Kaczur and Atogwe taken in third round From the Canadian Press: According to the Canadian Press, Canadians O.J. Atogwe and Nick Kaczur could sleep sound Saturday night. Atogwe and Kaczur were both selected in the third round of the NFL draft Saturday. Atogwe, a safety with the Stanford Cardinal from Windsor, Ont., was taken 66th overall by the St. Louis Rams while Kaczur, a six-foot-four, 320-pound offensive lineman with the Toledo Rockets from Brantford, Ont., went 100th overall to the Super Bowl-champion New England Patriots. After no Canadians were selected in last year's draft, Atogwe had the distinction of being the first Canuck taken Saturday. "I'm very excited," Atogwe told the Canadian Press from his family's residence in Windsor. "It's definitely a dream come true and something I've been waiting for all my life. "I knew St. Louis was one of the teams that was interested in me because I had spoken to them both at the Senior Bowl as well as at the NFL combine." According to the Canadian Press Atogwe certainly fills a need for the Rams, who have Adam Archuleta as the only true safety under contract. Archuleta's status is uncertain, too, after he suffered a back injury last season. Atogwe was the fifth safety selected in the draft. "I plan on going there and showing them what I can do and play to the best of my ability," he told CP. "I'm going to play hard and lobby the coaches for playing time." Kaczur was also drafted in the third round. The Super Bowl champion New England Patriots took the offensive lineman from Brampton, Ontario with their third selection. According to CP the selections of Atogwe and Kaczur wasn't surprising. Both came into the draft clearly as the top Canadian prospects and were projected to be selected anywhere between the third and sixth rounds. Atogwe and Kaczur become the 21st and 22nd Canadians have been taken in the NFL draft since 1976, with three - offensive linemen Mike Schad of Ottawa (Queen's) and Tony Mandarich of Oakville, Ont., (Michigan State) and running back Tim Biakabutuka of Montreal (Michigan) - having gone in the first round.