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There’s another former Palo Alto High football star ready to make his mark as a wide receiver in the NFL.
KeeSean Johnson was one of three wide receivers drafted by the Arizona Cardinals, joining quarterback Kyler Murray, the overall No. 1 pick of the draft.
Former Sacred Heart Prep star and Washington linebacker Ben Burr-Kirven was drafted by the Seattle Seahawks with the fourth pick of the fifth round, the 142nd overall pick.
Arizona took Johnson in the sixth round, with the 174th overall pick, on Saturday. Johnson became the first Fresno State player to go in the draft since 2015, when DT Tyeler Davidson. Derron Smith and Cody Wichmann were all selected.
Former Paly and Fresno State great Davante Adams was drafted by the Green Bay Packers in the second round in 2014, just after quarterback Derek Carr went to the Raiders.
Johnson surpassed Adams as Fresno State’s all-time leading pass receiver in the fall and helped the Bulldogs to a 12-2 record, including wins in the Mountain West Conference championship game, 19-16 in overtime, over Boise State and in the Las Vegas Bowl, 31-20, over Arizona State
“I’m bringing anything they need to the offense,” Johnson said in a press conference introducing him to reporters. “If they want me to play inside, outside, no matter what it is, I’m going to learn the whole offense inside and out. I’m coming in, and I’m going to do the same thing, I’m not going to stop, no matter what.”
Johnson leaves Fresno State the all-time leader in receptions (275) and receiving yards (3,463). He also set a school and conference record by catching at least one pass in 50 straight games.
“We can be really good,” Johnson said. “We’ve got Kyler Murray at quarterback. We’ve got three receivers we drafted, including myself. … We’re going to all come in and we’re going to compete. We’re just going to do whatever we can to help the team win more games.”
Burr-Kirven became the first player in history to earn both Pat Tillman Pac-12 Defensive Player of the Year and Pac-12 Scholar-Athlete of the Year honors for football in the fall.
He was named an Associated Press first-team All-American and a second-team Academic All-American.
Burr-Kirven recorded 176 tackles this past season, the most by a Husky in three decades. He ended with 338 tackles in 53 career games.
“It’s awesome,” Burr-Kirven said on a conference call. “I’ve loved Seattle these last four years, and I was definitely hoping I’d get to stay up there and be with the same fans and such a great organization. It couldn’t have turned out any better.”
Stanford draft picks
Kaden Smith was selected in the sixth round with the 176th overall pick of the by the San Francisco 49ers. A tight end from Flower Mound, Texas, Smith is the sixth Cardinal tight end drafted since 2012.
“Kaden is a very versatile tight end,” Stanford coach David Shaw said. “His size and strength give him the ability to be an every down blocker in the NFL and his athleticism will give him the opportunity to be a very good pass catcher as well. Kaden has a knack for making contested catches down the field and tight ends that work the seams in the NFL play for a long time.”
Jake Bailey was selected in the fifth round with the 163rd overall pick by the New England Patriots. A punter from Solana Beach, Bailey is the first Cardinal selected by the Patriots since 2015.
Jake Bailey has been a weapon for us for years,” Shaw said. “He has the strong leg to be a very good kickoff specialist that pins the opponent’s offense back to start their drives. Jake also has the ability not only to boot long punts that change field position, but also to pin the opponent back inside their 20-yard-line, sometimes inside the 10. That is a skill that is very coveted by NFL teams and the Patriots are getting a good one.”
By Palo Alto Online Sports/Stanford Athletics
By Palo Alto Online Sports/Stanford Athletics
By Palo Alto Online Sports/Stanford Athletics