Four makes a record.
Tight end extraordinaire Derek Schouman (6-2, 233) was
chosen by the Buffalo Bills in the seventh round of today’s National Football
League Draft. The local Eagle
High School product was part of a
record group of Boise State
seniors that were drafted this year.
Schouman’s teammates Gerald Alexander, Legedu Naanee and
Korey Hall were also selected to play in the NFL this weekend.
I first met Derek while volunteering to boost Boise
State season ticket sales four
years ago. Derek’s mom brought him to
meet all of us that day; I thought it to be a particularly important gesture to
Derek. As his mom explained, she wanted
to give Derek a behind-the-scenes look at what people do so that he can get a
college scholarship.
Schouman impressed Bronco coaches and fans right from the
start, taking the field as a freshman.
His speed made him a dangerous threat and created matchup problems for
opposing linebackers. His size not only
made him a bruising runner after the catch but a terrific blocker as well.
Derek became a starter during that first year, and a crowd
favorite as well. Fans began taking off
their shoes every time he made a catch in honor of #91. He caught 17 passes for 272 yards and four
scores as Boise State
finished the season ranked in the top fifteen and defeated TCU 34-31 in the
Fort Worth Bowl.
In his sophomore season, Derek caught 15 passes for 284
yards despite an injury that kept him out of the lineup for five games. His big target was missed, but he was a key
in the Liberty Bowl with three receptions for 53 yards as the Broncos battled Louisville
to the end. Boise
State finished the year in the top
fifteen for the third consecutive year.
Derek started 11 games in his junior year and finished with
16 catches for 168 yards and a touchdown.
Prior to the season, “Schou”, as he is affectionately known, was named
as the nation’s 18th best tight end by The Sporting News. Schouman
helped the Broncos to the 2005 MPC Computers Bowl against Boston
College of the Atlantic Coast
Conference.
Derek put it all together his senior year in a campaign that
earned him All-WAC honors. Schouman was fourth in receiving with 21
catches for 204 yards and three scores.
He came up big in the 2007 Fiesta Bowl with eight catches, including the
game-tying touchdown in overtime as Boise
State defeated Oklahoma
43-42. Schouman was named to the John Mackey Award Watch List prior to the season.
Schou and the Broncos were the nation’s only unbeaten team and finished
the year ranked #5.