KALAMAZOO, Mich. - Former Western Michigan football standout free safety
Louis Delmas was the first pick of the second round, 33rd overall selection in this year's National Football League Draft when he was selected by the Detroit Lions. Delmas becomes the fourth Bronco defensive back to ever be drafted into the NFL, fifth ever drafted, and the second former WMU player to be selected by the Lions.
The North Miami Beach, Fla., native is only the second Bronco ever drafted by the Detroit Lions, joining John Lomakoski (1962). Delmas is also the second highest draft choice in WMU football history. He was selected just behind Jason Babin, who was the 27th overall selection of the 2004 NFL Draft. Ranked as the first or second rated safety by the pundits in this year's draft throughout the 2008 season, during and after the NFL Combine and through his Pro Day on WMU's campus, Delmas was the first safety taken in the 2009 NFL Draft, the thiird defensive back taken overall.
Delmas did not know how long he would have to wait to hear his name and see his picture on ESPN on the first day of the 2009 NFL but when it was time for the 33rd overall pick, the wait was over. Delmas joins
Steve Hawkins (1994, 6th round, 166 overall - New England Patriots), Larry Cates (1974, 15th round, 390 overall - Miami Dolphins) and Vern Brown, Sr. (1972 - 17th round, 441 overall - Miami Dolphins) as the only WMU defensive backs to ever be drafted into the NFL. Troy Allen was the only other defensive back drafted out of Western Michigan, going in the 20th round of the 1965 American Football League (AFL) Draft to the New York Jets.
Delmas' career was one to be remembered as he was a starter from day one at Western Michigan, starting 44 of 45 games played. He amassed 310 career tackles with 111 coming in his senior season in 2008. He was the first Bronco to rack up over 100 tackles in a season since 2003. He snared 12 career interceptions for 152 combined return yards. He started last season with a pick in each of the first three games, including a pick-six at Idaho. Delmas was a three-time All-Mid-American Conference selection, earning first team honors in 2008 and second team in 2007 and 2005. He received honorable mention for Phil Steele's All-America following his senior campaign. Always the team player, Delmas was named as a captain in his final two seasons at WMU, helped the Broncos to two postseason bowl games in three years, was a freshman on a team that made the biggest one-year turnaround in MAC history in 2005 and helped Western Michigan to 29 wins during his career, the program's second-highest win total ever over a four-year span.
Fans of Western Michigan football still have plenty of reasons to keep their collective eye on the NFL Draft for the remainder of this weekend as there are possibly for more Broncos that could be selected through the rest of the remaining rounds. Wide receiver
Jamarko Simmons, cornerbacks
E.J. Biggers and
Londen Fryar and tight end
Branden Ledbetter have all received heightened attention by NFL teams leading up to this weekend.
The highest number of draftees in one year in program history was four. Bill Slater (DE), Dennis Sweeney (DE), Roger Lawson (RB) and Vern Brown, Sr. (DB) were all selected in the 1972 NFL Draft, going to the Minnesota Vikings, Philadelphia Eagles, Chicago Bears and Miami Dolphins, respectively.
