April 26, 2009

Jarett Dillard, who came to Rice to play in an option offense but became the most productive receiver in NCAA history, was selected by the Jacksonville Jaguars in fifth round of the NFL Draft on Sunday at Radio City Music Hall in New York. He is the second Owl to be drafted by the Jaguars, joining Brandon Green, who was taken in the sixth round in 2003.

Dillard, who was the 144th player selected in the draft, is the first Owl to be taken in the draft since 2003 when Ryan Pontbriand was taken by Cleveland in the fifth round and Green went to Jacksonville one round later.

Dillard led the nation with 20 touchdown receptions in 2008, becoming the first player in NCAA history to have two seasons with 20-or-more touchdown receptions (had 21 in 2006). He tied for ninth with an average of 9.23 points per game, seventh in receiving yards (1,310), eighth in yards per game (100.8) and tied for 20th with 6.69 catches per game.

He became the first player in C-USA history to top 4,000 career receiving yards, finishing with 4,138. Dillard was the 10th receiver in NCAA history to top 4,000 yards and the 13th receiver in NCAA history to record three seasons with at least 1,000 yards.

The San Antonio native set six NCAA records during his career at Rice and became the school's first Football Writers All-American since Buddy Dial in 1958.

Dillard set NCAA marks for career touchdown receptions (60), career games with a touchdown reception (38), most career touchdown passes by the same quarterback and receiver (51), most consecutive games with at least two catches per game (49), most games with a touchdown reception in a season (13) and most consecutive games with a touchdown reception in a season (13).

He graduated from Rice in May of 2008 with a degree in political science.