Raiders Draft a Second Hurricane

April 30, 2011

Draft Recap: 2R: Franklin | 2R: Harris | 3R: Hankerson | 3R: Van Dyke | 3R: Bailey | 4R: McCarthy

CORAL GABLES, Fla. – Tight end Richard Gordon will be joining former Canes teammate DeMarcus Van Dyke with the Oakland Raiders after being selected with the 16th pick of the sixth round of the 2011 NFL Draft.

UM is among the leaders with seven players taken in the 2011 NFL Draft.  UM had more players taken than any school – six – through the first four rounds of the draft.

The 181st overall draft played in 49 games and started 10 times for Miami, including seven starts during his season campaign.

The Miami native finished his career with 10 receptions for 60 yards and is an intriguing pick for the Raiders, who covet speed. Gordon came into the program as a high school track started and had five kickoff returns for 104 yards in 2007.  

Van Dyke and Gordon are the only Canes on the Oakland roster.  Oakland has three tight ends on their current roster, including starter Zach Miller.  Miller had 60 receptions and five touchdowns last season.  

Last year, UM had two tight ends drafted in budding star Jimmy Graham (Saints, 3rd round) and Derrick Epps (San Diego, 7th round).  UM has a long list of tight ends that have starred in the NFL, including Greg Olsen (Bears), Kellen Winslow (Buccaneers), Jeremy Shockey (Giants, Saints) and Daniel “Bubba” Franks (Green Bay).

CANES DRAFTED BY OAKLAND
TE Richard Gordon (181st in 2011)
CB DeMarcus Van Dyke (81st in 2011)
CB Philip Buchanon (17th in 2002)
TE Mondriel Fulcher (227th in 2000)
DB Tony Stawarz (16th round in 1971)
LB Tony Cline (4th round in 1970)
HB Pete Banaszak (5th round in 1966)
T Dan Connors (2nd round in 1964)
FB Jim Vollenweider (18th round in 1962)
G Jack Novak (24th round in 1961)

CANES IN THE 2011 DRAFT
OG Orlando Franklin – 2nd round (46th overall) to the Denver Broncos
CB Brandon Harris – 2nd round (60th overall) to the Houston Texans
WR Leonard Hankerson – 3rd round (79th overall) to the Washington Redskins
CB DeMarcus Van Dyke – 3rd round (81st overall) to the Oakland Raiders
DE Allen Bailey – 3rd round (86th overall) to the Kansas City Chiefs
LB Colin McCarthy – 4th round (109th overall) to the Tennessee Titans
TE Richard Gordon – 6th round (181st overall) to the Oakland Raiders