Thirty minutes into Saturday’s resumption of the National Football League draft, former Georgia receiver Kris Durham was at his Calhoun residence watching the selections on television with his parents and his uncle.
“He gets this call, and all of a sudden he jumps up and starts going, ‘Shhh! Shhh!'” Janet Durham said. “Then he starts saying, ‘Yes, sir. Yes, sir.’ So you kind of know what’s going on. It’s one of the greatest experiences you will have as a parent, watching your child get a chance at his dream.”
Durham, who was not invited to the NFL combine in February, defied the various draft projections Saturday by getting selected early in the fourth round by the Seattle Seahawks. The 6-foot-5, 216-pounder was coming off a torn labrum and finishing up his major in middle school education this time last year, but he was picked before more touted Southeastern Conference players such as Florida safety Ahmad Black, Ole Miss defensive tackle Jerrell Powe, South Carolina defensive end Cliff Matthews and Auburn offensive tackle Lee Ziemba.
A more recognized SEC receiver, Auburn’s Darvin Adams, wasn’t even drafted.
CBS and NFLdraft.com each pegged Durham as the No. 31 receiving prospect, which is borderline between a late-round pick and a free agent, but he was the 12th receiver taken. The first receiver drafted was teammate A.J. Green, who was picked fourth overall by Cincinnati after electing to bypass his senior season.