Former University of Louisiana at Lafayette corner back Ivan Taylor was selected by the Pittsburgh Steelers in the fourth round, 125th overall, in the 2003 NFL Draft.
One day after the Chicago Bears made former teammate Charles Tillman the earliest Ragin Cajuns player ever taken in the NFL Draft, Pittsburghs selection of Taylor is sixth highest of any Cajun. Only Tillman (35th), Brandon Stokley (105th in 1999), Anthony Clement (36th is 1998), Orlando Thomas (42nd in 1995) and Chris Gannon (73rd in 1989) were drafter earlier than Taylor.
UL Lafayette has now had at least two players taken in the same draft five different times. Virgil Eikenberg and John Magee went together in 1945, Harold Porter and Keith Muehr were drafted in 1976 and Brian Mitchell and Todd Scott were selected in 1991. Three Cajuns, Chris Gannon, Mark Hall and Thomas King were all taken in 1989.
Ivan Taylor, Cornerback, 6-1, 193
Transitioned from running back to cornerback in the spring of 2002Possesses blazing speed that caught the attention of many NFL scouts. Invited to 2003 Hula Bowl, recovering an onside kick which led to a game-winning field goal.
The Oakland Raiders took New Mexico native and former New Mexico State walk-on football player Siddeeq Shabazz in the seventh round of the 2003 NFL Draft.
Shabazz, a native of Chaparral and a graduate of Gadsden High School, became the first New Mexico State football player taken in the NFL Draft since running back Chris Barnes was taken by the Baltimore Ravens in the fifth round of the 2001 draft.
Shabazz got the news at a family gathering Sunday afternoon.
Shabazz, who graduated last December with a degree in Business Management, will reunite with former Aggie teammate and current Raider Tony Lukins.
"Tony has really been a big help to me," said Shabazz. "I'll already have somebody there to help me learn the ropes. He's the one that kind of opened the door for me."
Lukins, a second team all-conference defensive back for the Aggies in 2001, is a graduate of El Paso Andress High School and was signed to the Raiders practice squad late last season. He is currently playing for the Rhein Fire in NFL Europe.
"He has the speed, the toughness and the quickness," said Aggie head coach Tony Samuel. "He just has to learn the trade. Physically he can do it. Now he just has to do what he normally does, work hard."
Samuel, who is beginning his seventh season at New Mexico State, is especially proud of Shabazz because of how far he has come.
"He did it all at New Mexico State," said Samuel. "He took it from being a walk-on to being drafted in the NFL. He's a great kid. He is the true picture of getting the most out of what you've got."
Shabazz will travel to Oakland Thursday to take part in a rookie-free agent camp.
"I just have to go out there and work my hardest," said Shabazz. "I just have to go out there and be myself. That's all I can do."
Shabazz was a first team all-Sun Belt Conference pick the last two seasons. In 2001, Shabazz tied for the Sun Belt Conference lead in tackles with 107 and registered two interceptions. This year he had 93 tackles and two interceptions.
Fittingly, Shabazz intercepted a pass against Idaho to seal the Aggies 35-31 win in his final play as a collegiate.