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2009 Apr 26
NFL DRAFT: Glenn First of Three Huskers Taken
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He played all of nine games at linebacker, and he spent the last month of his career at Nebraska serving a suspension.
And yet, NU's Cody Glenn flashed enough potential in that short time span to become the first Cornhusker selected in the 2009 NFL Draft. Glenn went in the fifth round, with the 158th pick to Washington. There - he'll join, aside from highly paid and highly productive London Fletcher - one of the most undistinguished linebacker corps in the league.
Overall, Nebraska had three players drafted by NFL teams. Offensive guard Matt Slauson was picked up by the New York Jets in the sixth round with the 193rd overall pick. Moribund Detroit selected tackle Lydon Murtha with the 228th pick in the seventh round.
Glenn is a 6-foot, 244 pounder who spent three years at running back, where he briefly ascended to the top the depth chart midway through the 2006 season before getting hurt on a two-yard touchdown run at Texas A&M. Glenn played sparingly in 2007, relegated by head coach Bill Callahan to fourth string behind Marlon Lucky, Roy Helu and Quentin Castille.
Glenn approached head coach Bo Pelini about switching positions before spring practice in 2008. He moved to weakside linebacker and picked up the position well enough to play nine games and make 51 tackles.
Two days after a 45-35 win over Kansas, Pelini suspended Glenn indefinitely for a violation of team rules. It turned out to be for the rest of the season. Local reports never determined the reason for Glenn suspension - Glenn told the Washington Post "I got caught up selling some tickets that I wasn't supposed to be doing." - but he remained on the team roster and appeared, with other graduated seniors, at a charity basketball game and on the sidelines Red/White Spring Game.
Glenn was tabbed by many analysts as a priority free agent.
The 6-4, 315-pound Slauson, meanwhile, will reunite with former NU head coach Bill Callahan, the Jets’ offensive line and associate head coach. It was Callahan who offered Slauson the chance at a scholarship out of an Air Force preparatory school when Colorado wouldn’t take the plunge.
At 6-7, 306, Murtha wowed scouts with impressive physical test scores at NFL Combine, which helped calm fears about an up-and-down career at Nebraska that included two nagging injuries. His new team, the Lions, are sorely in need of a solid offensive line to protect No. 1 overall pick, Georgia quarterback Matthew Stafford, who is destined to start the first game for Detroit next fall.
Potential draftees Zach Potter, Marlon Lucky, Joe Ganz, Nate Swift and others were not selected.
Ganz signed a free agent contract with Tampa Bay, which drafted Kansas State quarterback Josh Freeman with its first-round selection. Ganz twice outdueled Freeman in NU wins in 2007 and 2008. Potter signed a free agent contract with the Jets, while Lucky signed with the Cincinnati Bengals. Swift signed with Denver and Todd Peterson signed with Jacksonville.
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And yet, NU's Cody Glenn flashed enough potential in that short time span to become the first Cornhusker selected in the 2009 NFL Draft. Glenn went in the fifth round, with the 158th pick to Washington. There - he'll join, aside from highly paid and highly productive London Fletcher - one of the most undistinguished linebacker corps in the league.
Overall, Nebraska had three players drafted by NFL teams. Offensive guard Matt Slauson was picked up by the New York Jets in the sixth round with the 193rd overall pick. Moribund Detroit selected tackle Lydon Murtha with the 228th pick in the seventh round.
Glenn is a 6-foot, 244 pounder who spent three years at running back, where he briefly ascended to the top the depth chart midway through the 2006 season before getting hurt on a two-yard touchdown run at Texas A&M. Glenn played sparingly in 2007, relegated by head coach Bill Callahan to fourth string behind Marlon Lucky, Roy Helu and Quentin Castille.
Glenn approached head coach Bo Pelini about switching positions before spring practice in 2008. He moved to weakside linebacker and picked up the position well enough to play nine games and make 51 tackles.
Two days after a 45-35 win over Kansas, Pelini suspended Glenn indefinitely for a violation of team rules. It turned out to be for the rest of the season. Local reports never determined the reason for Glenn suspension - Glenn told the Washington Post "I got caught up selling some tickets that I wasn't supposed to be doing." - but he remained on the team roster and appeared, with other graduated seniors, at a charity basketball game and on the sidelines Red/White Spring Game.
Glenn was tabbed by many analysts as a priority free agent.
The 6-4, 315-pound Slauson, meanwhile, will reunite with former NU head coach Bill Callahan, the Jets’ offensive line and associate head coach. It was Callahan who offered Slauson the chance at a scholarship out of an Air Force preparatory school when Colorado wouldn’t take the plunge.
At 6-7, 306, Murtha wowed scouts with impressive physical test scores at NFL Combine, which helped calm fears about an up-and-down career at Nebraska that included two nagging injuries. His new team, the Lions, are sorely in need of a solid offensive line to protect No. 1 overall pick, Georgia quarterback Matthew Stafford, who is destined to start the first game for Detroit next fall.
Potential draftees Zach Potter, Marlon Lucky, Joe Ganz, Nate Swift and others were not selected.
Ganz signed a free agent contract with Tampa Bay, which drafted Kansas State quarterback Josh Freeman with its first-round selection. Ganz twice outdueled Freeman in NU wins in 2007 and 2008. Potter signed a free agent contract with the Jets, while Lucky signed with the Cincinnati Bengals. Swift signed with Denver and Todd Peterson signed with Jacksonville.
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Tags: nfl draft, cody glenn, matt slauson, lydon murtha
Home > Blogs > Official Husker Locker Blog > NFL DRAFT: Glenn First of Three Huskers Taken
congrats to Glenn, sorry for Slauson back under BC, what a deal the Bengals will get with Lucky, and I hope Ganz can make a run at Tampa!
– Apr 27, 2009
articles and comments even make me more sure that Lucky could have had it alot better had he gone some where else, Sad but true. Look how Suh has improved under Bo, not to mention many others..............
– Apr 26, 2009
Slauson's probably yelling, "Why, God?? WHY??"
– Apr 26, 2009
It says it all about BC's lack of player development. There was a reason TO ran 2 full simultaneous practices; when he called a play, the 1st and 2nd string ran it. Instead BC 2nd string was bored having water fights on the sideline. More importantly for Husker fans, I think Glenn getting drafted in the 5th round shows the Bo & Company's ability to spot talent, adjust the roster and get the best players on the field. Future should be brighter. GBR!!
– Apr 26, 2009
Your last comment says it all--Callahan & Company got an F in player development. That's why it is good we have turned the page on that sad chapter of Husker history.
– Apr 26, 2009