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Barden Drafted by New York Giants in Third Round

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SAN LUIS OBISPO, Calif. -- Wide receiver Ramses Barden has become Cal Poly's third draft choice in the third round over the last five years. Barden was selected by the New York Giants in the National Football League Draft on Sunday morning at Radio City Music Hall in New York. Barden was the 85th overall choice, becoming the second-highest draft selection in Cal Poly history, and the first Mustang offensive player chosen since quarterback Seth Burford was drafted in the ...

Published Apr 26th, by Eric Burdick

SAN LUIS OBISPO, Calif. -- Wide receiver Ramses Barden has become Cal Poly's third draft choice in the third round over the last five years.

Barden was selected by the New York Giants in the National Football League Draft on Sunday morning at Radio City Music Hall in New York.

Barden was the 85th overall choice, becoming the second-highest draft selection in Cal Poly history, and the first Mustang offensive player chosen since quarterback Seth Burford was drafted in the seventh round by the San Diego Chargers in 2002.

Mustang linebacker Jordan Beck was drafted in the third round in 2005 by the Atlanta Falcons and defensive end Chris Gocong was chosen in the third round a year later by the Philadelphia Eagles.

Gocong, the 71st overall selection, is a starter for the Eagles while Beck, the 90th overall selection and now the third-highest Mustang choice in the NFL Draft, was released by the Denver Broncos last summer.

Cornerback Courtney Brown was a seventh-round selection by the Dallas Cowboys in 2007, the last Mustang to be drafted until Barden was chosen Sunday.

Barden, Cal Poly’s first-ever representative in the Senior Bowl, made a pair of catches in Ladd-Peebles Stadium at Mobile, Alabama, in late January. The following month, he participated in the NFL Combine in Indianapolis and, in March, exhibited his skills on Pro Day at San Jose State.

Last fall, Barden (6-6, 227, Altadena, Calif./Flintridge Prep HS) was named to the American Football Coaches Association’s Football Championship Subdivision All-America Team, the Walter Camp Football Foundation FCS All-America Team and the Associated Press FCS All-America First Team, all for the second year in a row.

He finished fourth in balloting for the 22nd Walter Payton Award, presented annually by The Sports Network to the top offensive player in the NCAA’s FCS.

Barden completed his Cal Poly career with 206 catches for 4,203 yards and 50 touchdowns, all school records. He also is in the NCAA record book for most consecutive games with a touchdown catch, both in the FCS and all-time (20) as well as most career games with a touchdown catch in the FCS and all-time (32). His 50 career scoring receptions is No. 13 all-time as well.

Last season, Barden caught 67 passes (No. 2 all-time at Cal Poly) for 1,257 yards (No. 3) and 18 touchdowns (tying his own school record). He caught a pass in 44 of 46 games played as a Mustang and posted 16 career 100-yard receiving games, both school records.

He caught at least one touchdown catch in each of Cal Poly's 11 games this season, tying an NCAA mark for consecutive touchdown catches in a single season set by Randy Moss.

Barden finished first in the conference in receiving yards per game (114.3) and scoring (9.8) and was second in receptions per contest (6.1). Among NCAA FCS players, he was No. 2 in receiving yards per game, No. 8 in scoring and No. 20 in receptions per contest.

Barden set a career high with 12 catches against Southern Utah last October while his career high for receiving yards in a game is 268 against Idaho State a year ago.

Barden was named offensive player of the year in the Great West for the second straight year and was named to the All-Great West first team four times.

In addition to Barden, other former Mustangs who participated on Pro Day at San Jose State last month were offensive lineman Stephen Field, running backs James Noble and Ryan Mole, wide receiver Tre’dale Tolver, quarterback Jonathan Dally, linebacker Mark Restelli and defensive back Martin Mares.

Two former Mustangs were drafted in the fourth round -- wide receiver Jimmy Childs by the St. Louis Cardinals in 1978 and wide receiver Robbie Martin by the Pittsburgh Steelers in 1981. Wide receiver Cecil Turner was a fifth-round selection of the Chicago Bears in 1968.

Cal Poly in the NFL Draft
(Top 10 Rounds)
Third Round
Chris Gocong, DE (71st Overall Selection)    Philadelphia Eagles    2006
Ramses Barden, WR (85th Overall Selection)    New York Giants    2009
Jordan Beck, LB (90th Overall Selection)    Atlanta Falcons    2005

Fourth Round
Jimmy Childs, WR    St. Louis Cardinals    1978
Robbie Martin, WR    Pittsburgh Steelers    1981

Fifth Round
Cecil Turner, WR    Chicago Bears    1968

Sixth Round
Gary Davis, RB    Miami Dolphins    1976
Charles Daum, OL    Dallas Cowboys    1982
Damone Johnson, TE    Los Angeles Rams    1985

Seventh Round
Mike Daum, OL    Miami Dolphins    1981
Louis Jackson, RB    New York Giants    1981
Kamil Loud, WR    Buffalo Bills    1998
Seth Burford, QB    San Diego Chargers    2002
Courtney Brown, DB    Dallas Cowboys    2007

Eighth Round
Andre Keys, WR    Pittsburgh Steelers    1978
Paul Sverchek, DL    Minnesota Vikings    1984

Ninth Round
Alex Bravo, RB    Los Angeles Rams    1954
Bob Lawson, FB    Detroit Lions    1954
Jim Cox, E    San Francisco 49ers    1956
Gary Swanson, LB    Los Angeles Rams    1985
Chris Dunn, DL    Atlanta Falcons    1989