Wood Selected in First Round by Buffalo
April 25, 2009 | Football
April 25, 2009
Louisville, Ky. - University of Louisville senior center Eric Wood was selected in the first round of the National Football League Draft by the Buffalo Bills on Saturday evening.
Wood was selected with the 28th pick of the first round and was the second center selected in the first round. Alex Mack of California was the 21st selection by the Cleveland Browns.
Wood was a mainstay for the Cardinals during a brillant career after signing with Louisville out of Elder High School in Cincinnati, Ohio.
The 6-foot-4, 305-pounder played in 49 straight games for the Cardinals dating back to the 2005 season, leading the Cardinals to the 2006 Gator Bowl and the 2007 Orange Bowl. His starting streak was the second-longest in school history.
Wood earned All-BIG EAST honors for the third straight season last year. He earned first team in 2008 and 2007, and was a second team BIG EAST selection in 2006. The product of Cincinnati, Ohio, was named one of the finalists for the Rimington Award, which goes to the best center in the country.
Amobi Okoye was the last Cardinal to get drafted in the first round. Okoye was a first round selection by the Houston Texans in 2007. Wood is the Cardinals' first first round draft pick on the offensive line since Bruce Armstrong was selected 23rd in the 1987 draft. Jason Spitz was a third round selection at guard for the Green Bay Packers in 2006.
"It's definitely a dream come true for me," said Wood."I'm extremely excited to be selected by Buffalo in the first round, I can't wait to get up there and get started. They told me I can have a shot to play guard so its definitely something I'm excited about. I will do whatever I can do to help the team."
