April 26, 2003
Offensive tackle Kwame Harris and receiver Teyo Johnson will begin their professional football careers where they finished their college careers: in the Bay Area. Harris, who gave up his final season of eligibility on The Farm, was selected in the first round of the NFL Draft today by the San Francisco 49ers with the 26th pick. Johnson, who gave up his final two years of eligibility, was chosen by the Oakland Raiders in the second round with the 63rd pick overall.
Harris, from Newark, Deleware, becomes the 18th player in school history and first since 1993 to be chosen in the first round. The last Cardinal player to be selected in the first round was Darrien Gordon, who was the 22nd pick overall by the San Diego Chargers in '93. Harris also becomes the fourth offensive tackle from Stanford to be a first round pick. He joins an elite group that includes Bob Whitfield (1992), Brian Holloway (1981) and Gordon King (1978).
Harris was named the Morris Trophy Award winner in 2002 as the top lineman in the Pacific-10 Conference. He was a first-team all-conference selection and honorable mention All-America.
Johnson, who played football for three seasons and basketball for two years on The Farm, is the first Cardinal receiver to be chosen in the first or second round since James Lofton was a first round pick in 1978. After redshirting as a quarterback during his freshman season, Johnson was converted to wide receiver in 2001 and wound up catching 79 passes for 1,032 yards and 15 touchdowns the past two years.
Today's NFL Draft consisted of the first three rounds. Rounds four-seven will take place on Sunday. Other possible Cardinal draft picks include DB Colin Branch, FB Casey Moore, RB Kerry Carter, DT Matt Leonard and OG Greg Schindler.