North Dakota State University free safety Nick Schommer was the 33rd selection in the seventh round by the Tennessee Titans and the 242nd player selected overall in the National Football League draft on Sunday, April 26.
Schommer becomes the 25th NDSU player selected in the NFL or Canadian Football League draft. Since 2005, three players have been selected including center Rob Hunt (5th round, Indianapolis), linebacker Joe Mays (6th round, Philadelphia) and Schommer.
In addition, four North Dakota State players -- running back Tyler Roehl (Seattle Seahawks), wide receiver Kole Heckendorf (Green Bay Packers), linebacker Ramon Humber (Indianapolis Colts) and tight end Jerimiah Wurzbacher (San Diego Chargers) -- have signed undrafted free agent contracts, while defensive end Joe Lardinois has been invited to the Cincinnati Bengals rookie camp for a tryout, linebacker Mike Maresh will head to the Minnesota Vikings for opportunity camp and fullback Tyler Jangula has been invited to the New Orleans rookie camp tryout.
"My phone was dead all day long. My agent had talked to Houston and they picked another safety. Before the seventh round started Seattle called and said to be ready by the phone. Then Tennessee called and said, 'Do you want to be a Titan? I said, 'Hell yeah'," said Schommer from his Prescott, Wis., home.
"It's a great feeling. I'm so happy right now, I can't describe it. It's a great opportunity."
Schommer, a 6-foot, 197-pounds senior from Prescott, Wis. (Prescott H.S.), was named to The Associated Press Football Championship Subdivision (FCS) All-America third team in 2008. He was third in the Missouri Valley Football Conference in pass breakups (1.10 avg.) and fourth in interceptions (3). Schommer tied for third all-time at NDSU with 13 interceptions.
A first team all-conference performer, Schommer was fifth on the team with 54 tackles including 33 solos, 4.5 tackles for loss and one sack. He recorded a career-high 11 tackles at Youngstown State (9-20-08), and twice had a career best seven solo tackles against Wyoming (9-13-08) and Missouri State (11-15-08).
NFL.com offered this pick analysis, "Schommer runs well and has good size. He's an outstanding special teams player and can tackle. Provided he makes the Titans' roster, look for him to find a place on a special teams unit."
