O gets his man - Jackson Clarion-Ledger
For better or worse, ex-Ole Miss coach Ed Orgeron has wasted no time making his imprint on the New Orleans Saints.

Orgeron's influence was evident early in Saturday's NFL draft when the Saints traded up three places to the seventh pick and selected Sedrick Ellis, a defensive tackle Orgeron recruited to Southern Cal five years ago.

My take: This move was definitely for the better. Ellis, a 300-pounder with uncommon quickness for a man so huge, should make an immediate impact...

..."Sedrick is very explosive, very versatile," Orgeron said. "He's an outstanding pass rusher, very tough. He's also an outstanding young man who will be a great guy in our locker room."...

Also, Saints get one of their men - New Orleans Times-Picayune
Saints trade up, draft Ellis - New Orleans Times-Picayune

Booty, Vikings see move as good fit - Minneapolis Star-Tribune
Vikings coach Brad Childress never has hidden his desire to have a quality developmental quarterback. If that guy happens to be the son of a football coach, all the better.

John David Booty fit the profile so well, at least in the Vikings' minds, that they made a trade with archrival Green Bay...

..."You could see many of the throws that we have within this offense, you could see him operate and do [at USC]," Childress said. "So that was intriguing to us. ... He comes from a coaching family, has had brothers that have played, so all those things factor in, and then obviously his production. We felt like his value where we got him there was too good to pass up."...

Also, USC coach on John David Booty - Minneapolis Star-Tribune
On USC and JBD (John David Booty) - Minneapolis Star-Tribune
USC's Carroll knows QBs, and praises Booty's talent - Minneapolis Star-Tribune
[Walters] Edina teammate calls Booty 'a leader' - St Paul Pioneer Press
Minnesota Vikings give Booty a shot - St Paul Pioneer Press
Booty correct about Minnesota - New Orleans Times-Picayune
Booty's wish does come true - LA Times

Rivers a character guy - Cincy Enquirer
Sitting in a hotel suite in his hometown of Lake Mary, Fla., Keith Rivers received a phone call from Bengals head coach Marvin Lewis to let him know the team had taken him with the ninth pick in the first round.

Then Bengals quarterback Carson Palmer, a fellow Southern Cal Trojan, made a call to welcome the linebacker to Cincinnati.

"He said it's a great organization and an excellent city, and said I'm what they need," Rivers said of his conversation with Palmer. "He said they have a lot of offense and need a little help on defense. I want to come in and help and do everything I can to help us get to the playoffs."

The selection of Rivers pleased Palmer...

Also, Rivers brings leadership to Bengals - Cincy Enquirer
Bengals bamboozled in first round - Cincy Enquirer
Someone to build D around - Cincy Enquirer
Palmer happy to have USC star join Cincinnati - Dayton Daily News

Seahawks' top pick Lawrence Jackson is fond of Seattle - Seattle Times
Lawrence Jackson loves Seattle. And not just because the Seahawks made the defensive end from USC their first-round pick on Saturday.

He really loves Seattle. He can't wait to walk around Pike Place Market. He told NFL coaches from other teams that his ideal spot would be — you guessed it — right here. He likes the rain, yet he's from Southern California. He wanted to live here even when he was in high school...

..."This is the place that I wanted to be," Jackson said Monday at his first news conference as a Seahawk..."I've been telling people for months leading up to the draft, even years, that after football is over with, I'm going to go move to Seattle. So to be here is a blessing, to have this opportunity to play in the city."...

Also, Rivals come together - Seattle P-I

Baker had a feeling about Falcons - Atlanta Journal-Constitution
Southern California left tackle Sam Baker had an inkling that he would be drafted by the Falcons.

"I had a feeling that I was going to go there, but I thought I was going to go with one of those second-round picks," said Baker, who visited the Falcons on April 7. "My only other visit was with the Redskins and I think they had the pick."...

...Baker's father has been a guiding light throughout the process.

"He said, don't let your draft position change who you are," Baker said. "You know, if you are the first pick or the last pick, don't let it change who you are."...

Also, Falcons took low-key approach to rebuilding - Atlanta Journal-Constitution
What we learned from the Falcons' draft - Atlanta Journal-Constitution
[King] Reviewing Falcons' picks - CNNSI

Fred Davis Is Bone Crusher - Washington Post
...Nicknames? Yeah, the man has nicknames. Mom Margo Davis says he was once known as "Bone Crusher," because he he broke a kid's arm in youth football.

"We used to take him to practice and they didn't want to play, it was like, 'Oh no, here comes Fred,' " Margo said. "When the kids would see him they'd run in the opposite direction."

* In high school, he was known as "Freddy Franchise," according to his brother, because he played so many different positions.

* Davis's take on these nicknames? "They over there making stuff up," he said of his brother and mother...

Also, Redskins Welcome Three Pass-Catchers - WJLA-TV
Redskins on the Receiving End - Washington Times
Redskins a good fit for Davis - Toledo Blade
USC’s Davis plays waiting game - Toledo Blade

Big draft day for local football talent - Vacaville Reporter
The waiting was hard for Thomas Williams. The waiting after he knew something was brewing was even harder.

The former Vacaville High School star and USC standout was the 155th overall pick in the 2008 NFL Draft, going in the fifth round to the Jacksonville Jaguars. He got the good news while in Sacramento spending an eventful afternoon with his mother and grandparents.

"I found out about 25 to 30 minutes before my name ran along the bottom of the screen," Williams said. "They called me to make sure they could get a hold of me, to make sure I'd be able to practice, and to let me know when minicamp would be.

"Then they told me they'd call me back in 15 to 20 minutes...

Also, Jacksonville Jaguars select Williams on 2nd day of NFL Draft - Orlando Sentinel

Another winning Saturday for USC in NFL draft - LA Times
...A school-record seven Trojans were selected in the first two rounds. That eclipsed the previous mark of five, set in 1968 and 2006.

USC Coach Pete Carroll envisioned this type of NFL payoff...

..."what we hoped was to make the mark of having four or five guys in the first round," Carroll said. "That's what we had seen was possible when schools have a good run. We're right in the middle of that"...

...On a day when no other school had more than two players taken in the first round, four Trojans heard their names called: defensive tackle Sedrick Ellis (seventh to New Orleans), linebacker Keith Rivers (ninth to Cincinnati), tackle Sam Baker (21st to Atlanta) and defensive end Lawrence Jackson (28th to Seattle)...

Also, Trojans cash-in on NFL draft day with decision to stay in school - LA Times
USC is one of the top suppliers of NFL talent - OC Register
USC football players dominate NFL Draft - OC Register
Four Trojans selected as first-round picks - Daily Trojan
NFL takes liking to USC's talent - Desert Sun
USC is special, Pro Day or draft day - Minneapolis Star-Tribune
USC trend continues, but will SEC's? - Mobile Press-Register
How to Run a 4.2 - WSJ