Suwannee’s Kelly Jennings was not only picked in the first round, pick number 31, but he was chosen by the 2006 Super Bowl contenders, the Seattle Seahawks. With any luck and a good year, Seattle could very well be back in the Super Bowl in 2007. And Jennings will be there.

“I wasn’t surprised to go in the first round,” Jennings said, speaking from his hotel room in Seattle. “I knew it would be the first or second round.”

Jennings is the first Suwannee player to ever go in the first round of the NFL Draft. The Draft took place this weekend in New York at Radio City Music Hall.

Jennings, a University of Miami graduate, was flown out to Seattle by the Seahawks for a press conference Sunday, April 30. He said he was surprised the Sea Hawks picked him. “I hadn’t heard much from them,” Jennings said. He thinks it’s great they picked him and is hoping the Seahawks make a run back for the Super Bowl.

Jennings will be home in Live Oak some this week but has to be back in Seattle for mini camp this weekend.

“My friends congratulated me and are all real happy for me,” Jennings said. He’s proud to be the first Suwannee player ever to go in the first round. “I’m proud to hold up the UM tradition,” Jennings said.

Florida had a ton of players going in the first round. The first Florida player was Ernie Simms, OLB from FSU. Simms went at number nine to Detroit.

FSU defensive end Kamerion Wimbley went at 13 to Cleveland.

FSU defensive tackle Broderick Bunkley went at 14 to Philadelphia.

FSU cornerback Antonio Cromartie went 19th to San Diego. Jennings finished off the Florida first-rounders going at 31 as a cornerback to Seattle.

In the second round Miami had three players chosen and the University of Florida one. Roger McIntosh, outside linebacker from Miami, went at pick 35 to the Jets.

UF wide receiver Chad Jackson went at 36 to New England.

Miami wide receiver Sinorice Moss went at 44 to the New York Giants.

And Miami wide receiver Deven Hester went at 57 to Chicago.

Miami offensive tackle Eric Winston went in the third round, pick number 66 to Houston.

Miami offensive tackle Rashad Butler went at 89 to Carolina.

And FSU wide receiver Willie Reid went pick number 95 to Pittsburgh.

In the fourth round inside linebacker from Miami Leon Williams went to Cleveland as pick number 110.

Leon Washington, FSU running back, went pick number 117 to the Jets.

And Miami defensive tackle Orien Harris went pick 133 to Pittsburgh.

The last round to feature Florida players was the fifth. Miami outside linebacker Terna Nande went 137 to Tennessee.

Pat Watkins, FSU free safety, went pick number 138 to Dallas.

Miami cornerback Marcus Maxey went pick number 154 to Kansas City.

A.J. Nicholson, inside linebacker from FSU, went 157 to Cincinnati.

University of Florida defensive end Jeremy Mincey went 191 to New England. The final Florida pick was University of Florida corner back Demetrice Webb. Webb went pick number 236 to Jacksonville.