NEW YORK, N.Y. ? Senior offensive tackle Jermon Bushrod (King George H.S./King George, Va.) of the Tiger football team was selected by the New Orleans Saints in the fourth round of the 2007 National Football League Draft at Radio City Music Hall on Sunday afternoon. The 125th overall selection, Bushrod becomes the fourth player in Tiger football history to be drafted by an NFL team.

“Jermon is an outstanding player and individual,” Towson Coach Gordy Combs said. “We're very happy for him that he has been given a chance to play in the NFL. We know he'll make the most of his opportunity.”

Bushrod was one of four Atlantic 10 Football Conference (now Colonial Athletic Association) players taken in the draft. He was the highest pick at 125. New Hampshire cornerback Corey Graham was the 168th pick in the fifth round by the Chicago Bears. Maine safety Daren Stone was drafted in the sixth round (203rd selection) by the Atlanta Faclons. Delaware tight end Ben Patrick was the 215th player taken by the Arizona Cardinals in final round.

A four-year starter at left tackle for the Tigers, Bushrod was a three-time All-Atlantic 10 Football Conference selection. He was honored as a third-team pick as a sophomore and junior while earning first team honors this past season. He started the final 37 games of his college career and helped the Tigers to a 7-4 record during the 2006 season while leading the A-10 in passing offense.

Bushrod is the first Towson player to be drafted by an NFL team since Tony Vinson was picked by the San Diego Chargers in the fifth round of the 1994 draft. Randy Bielski was the first-ever Towson player to be selected as he was the 12th-round selection of the Baltimore Colts in the 1980 NFL Draft. David Meggett, who was the 1988 Walter Payton Award winner for the Tigers, was a fifth round pick for the New York Giants in 1989.