LINCOLN — Phillip Dillard was sort of anticipating that sometime Friday night would be when he'd hear his good news and enjoy a stress-relieving exhale of satisfaction.
But the unpredictability of the NFL draft often plays cruel games with prospects' emotions. So as it turns out, Dillard had to wait a day longer to breathe easy.
He's not going to complain, though. The New York Giants used the fourth round's No. 17 pick (No. 115 overall) to draft Dillard Saturday morning, ending a suspense-filled couple of days for the former Nebraska linebacker.
“After watching the first round (Thursday), I realized that this draft definitely was not going the way anyone expected it to,” he said. “It was out of my control and it was tough, but well worth the wait.”
Dillard was the first former Nebraska player picked after Detroit drafted Heisman finalist Ndamukong Suh with its second overall pick Thursday night. Friday's second- and third-round selections didn't include any ex-Huskers.
But Dillard ended the drought. And about two hours later, Cleveland selected safety Larry Asante with the 29th pick in the fifth round (160th overall).
Safety Matt O'Hanlon signed a free-agent deal with Carolina after the draft. Defensive end Barry Turner went undrafted, but he's expected to sign a deal in the next few days.
If anything, the draft made a statement about Nebraska's defensive tutelage.
Coach Bo Pelini and his staff transformed one of the nation's worst units into one of the stingiest during a two-year stretch. And the NFL draft stock of Dillard and the rest of his former teammates was boosted by the turnaround.
Dillard, who had 83 tackles and was an All-Big 12 second-teamer in 2010, credits Pelini for helping him get to this point.
“If he wasn't my coach, I don't think I would be in this position right now,” Dillard told New York area reporters during a conference call. “It is the whole mind-set of everything that he has taught me. … The knowledge of the game that he has instilled in me is beyond reason.”
Dillard didn't play in the first two games of his senior year, but by midseason, he emerged as Nebraska's top option at linebacker and a legitimate NFL prospect. He finished the campaign with 83 total tackles, which ranked second on the team.
Asante, too, had late-career improvement that vaulted him into NFL consideration.
He played one season at Coffeyville (Kan.) Community College and struggled — like most of the NU defensive players — during the 2007 season.
But as a senior, Asante made 79 tackles, forced two fumbles and intercepted two passes. He was named a first-team All-Big 12 pick by league coaches.
“First and foremost, I want to thank the Lord for giving me great coaches,” Asante said. “And to play with Suh and the whole Blackshirt defense really helped make me the player I am, so now I'm ready to go in and help the Browns any way I can.”
Asante will join former Texas quarterback Colt McCoy on the Browns. McCoy was pick No. 21 in the draft's third round (No. 85 overall).
But to Asante, probably the more relevant of Cleveland's draft picks came in the second round. The Browns drafted safety T.J. Ward, an Oregon standout expected to contribute early. Asante knows that he has work to do.
“My role heading into rookie camp is to come in and learn as much as I can from the coaching staff, get into the playbook and learn the playbook,” Asante told the team's official website. “Everything else will take care of itself.”
Dillard is also anticipating a competitive offseason, even after the Giants waived middle linebacker Antonio Pierce after last season. He's not exactly expecting to start, but it sounds like he doesn't plan on watching many games from the sideline.
“I expect to come in and make an impact on the team regardless of what they ask me to do,” he said. “Whether it is to play special teams, learn the playbook, master the playbook, get the playbook down, then earn a spot, that is what I am willing to do. … I want to make an impact on the team.”
Contact the writer:
402-473-9585, jon.nyatawa@owh.com
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