Omaha Nighthawks Head Coach Joe Moglia Goes For Experience And Huskers In 2011 Draft

Published on May 2, 2011 under United Football League (UFL 1)
Omaha Nighthawks News Release


JACKSONVILLE, FL - Monday, May 2, 2011 - Omaha Nighthawks President and Head Coach JOE MOGLIA and his staff led by General manager RICK MUELLER selected 12 players in the 2011 United Football League Draft on Monday evening.

The third annual UFL Draft featured a total of 52 picks by the five UFL clubs, as Commissioner MICHAEL HUYGHUE and the head coaches created social media history by announcing their selections on Twitter.com. Nebraska and Oregon led the way with three players selected in the 2011 Draft.

With the second overall selection, the Nighthawks chose experienced cornerback REYNALDO HILL, who made 26 starts and played in 48 NFL games with the Tennessee Titans.

"I'm just ready to play," Hill told The Football Post. "I'm ecstatic about it. I'm just looking forward to showing them that I can still be the player I was. I just ran into some injuries. I'm healthy now. I'm ready to prove to everybody that I can play at a high level again."

Later in the draft Moglia stayed closer to home, picking up two players from Nebraska, where he was Executive Advisor to head coach Bo Pelini for the past two years. Offensive tackles MIKE SMITH and D.J. JONES were taken in the fifth and sixth rounds respectively.

"Mike is a great example of a player that can really benefit from the UFL," said Moglia. "A really good player early in his career at Nebraska, but has struggled with injuries as of late. This is an opportunity for Mike to showcase his abilities at the pro level."

Mueller said of Jones: "D.J. had a great career at Nebraska and is a guy, like Mike Smith that Coach Moglia feels really good about. His future is extremely bright and the Nighthawks fans should be excited to have a familiar face playing in Omaha."

The Nighthawks made defensive end JAMIE CUMBIE, a productive player from Clemson the seventh selection overall with the team's second round pick and then took the first of three offensive linemen in former Miami Dolphins fourth round NFL draft pick JOE TOLEDO (Washington).

A potential steal came along in the eighth round in former Mississippi quarterback JEREMIAH MASOLI who has the potential to excite the Nighthawks faithful. In 2010 he played for the Running Rebels, passing for 2,039 yards and 14 touchdowns and running for 544 yards and six touchdowns. In two seasons with Oregon (2008-2009), Masoli passed for 3,891 yards and 28 touchdowns and ran for 1,386 yards and 23 touchdowns.

Omaha Nighthawks 2011 Draft selections and quotes from Head Coch Joe Moglia and General Manager Rick Mueller

#2 OVERALL - CB REYNALDO HILL, FLORIDA

Hill played for the National Football League's Tennessee Titans from 2005-08, appearing in 48 games with 26 starts. Hill's career NFL numbers include six interceptions for 108 yards and a touchdown, 11 pass breakups and 126 total tackles. He had a 52-yard interception return touchdown as a rookie against the Oakland Raiders.

Moglia: "A guy our scouting staff have liked since he came out of Florida in 2005. Solid cover corner that should come in and compete."

#7 OVERALL - DT JAMIE CUMBIE, CLEMSON

A rookie, Cumbie played for the Tigers from 2006-09, and had five career sacks. In 2009, he recorded 33 total tackles and two sacks, making a season-high seven total stops against South Carolina. Cumbie had two sacks and 24 total tackles in 2007.

Moglia: "A talented rookie that shined as a junior. Has a lot of upside and the physical dimensions to be a special player."

#12 OVERALL - OT JOE TOLEDO, WASHINGTON

Toledo was a fourth-round pick of the Miami Dolphins in the 2006 NFL Draft, although he has yet to appear in a regular-season NFL game. He also was on the San Francisco 49ers' practice squad for the entire 2008 NFL season.

Mueller: "A solid veteran offensive tackle who is from the Omaha area."

#17 OVERALL - CB CHRIS SMITH, NORTHERN ILLINOIS

A rookie, Smith started all 13 games at cornerback in as a senior in 2010 despite playing much of the season with an injured thumb that required a cast for each game. Last fall, he posted 70 total tackles, three interceptions, 15 pass breakups and 4 1/2 tackles for loss. In 2009, he had 70 total stops. Smith previously played at Highland Community College in 2008.

Moglia: "Chris is a rookie that Rick Mueller has been raving about. Has all the tools to play the position and is a tough, feisty player. We really feel good about Chris' ability to play pro football."

#23 OVERALL - OT MIKE SMITH, NEBRASKA

A rookie, Smith is looking to begin his professional career after missing all of the 2010 season with a broken leg. In 2009, Smith started all 14 games, and in 2008, he started 12 of 13 games played - all at left tackle. He played in all 12 games as a backup tackle as a redshirt freshman in 2007.

Moglia: "Mike is a great example of a player that can really benefit from the UFL. A really good player early in his career at Nebraska but has struggled with injuries as of late. This is an opportunity for Mike to showcase his abilities at the pro level."

#28 OVERALL - OT D.J. JONES, NEBRASKA

A rookie, Jones, an Omaha native, gets the chance to play professionally at home. He started all 14 games at right tackle as a senior in 2010, and played in all 14 games in 2009, primarily as a backup at both tackle spots. In all, Jones played in 39 games for the Cornhuskers, starting 17.

Mueller: "DJ had a great career at Nebraska and is a guy, like Mike Smith that Coach Moglia feels really good about. His future is extremely bright and the Omaha fans should be excited to have a familiar face playing in Omaha."

#33 OVERALL - TE KYLE NELSON, NEW MEXICO STATE

A rookie, Nelson brings a productive senior season with him to the beginning of his professional career. In 2010, he caught 41 passes for 371 yards and a touchdown, including a six-catch day against Louisiana Tech. Nelson also served as NMSU's long snapper.

Moglia: "Kyle is not only an outstanding receiving tight end, but also a legitimate long snapper. He tried out for our staff at our Omaha workout and did a fantastic job."

#38 OVERALL - QB JEREMIAH MASOLI, MISSISSIPPI

A rookie, Masoli brings versatility to the Nighthawks new offense. In 2010, he played for the Running Rebels, passing for 2,039 yards and 14 touchdowns and running for 544 yards and six touchdowns. In two seasons with Oregon (2008-09), Masoli passed for 3,891 yards and 28 touchdowns and ran for 1,386 yards and 23 touchdowns.

Mueller: "Jerimiah stood out to Joe and the entire staff at the Stars and Stripes all-star game. He fits what we are doing and has a chance here to play the quarterback position."

#39 OVERALL - DE BRIAN JOHNSTON, GARDNER-WEBB

Johnston was a seventh-round selection of the Kansas City Chiefs in the 2008 NFL Draft, playing in nine games with the team in 2008 and making three total tackles. He was a Division I-AA All-American as a senior in 2007, racking up 74 total tackles, 29 tackles for loss, six sacks and 22 quarterback pressures. Johnston was a two-time Division I-AA All-American.

Mueller: "Brian is a guy that has been evaluated in a couple of NFL camps and has a lot of upside."

#43 OVERALL - RB DERRICK LOCKE, KENTUCKY

A rookie, Locke begins his professional football career coming off an 887-yard, 10-touchdown rushing season as a senior in 2010. Locke had four straight 100-yard rushing games to start 2010, including a 166-yard, two-touchdown performance against Akron. Locke also caught 34 passes as a senior.

Mueller: "Derrick is an extremely explosive player at the running back position. He is an electric runner, an outstanding receiver out of the backfield and would be a great addition to our football team."

#48 OVERALL - DT AKIEM HICKS, UNIVERSITY OF REGINA

A rookie, Hicks was a 2010 Canada West All-Star in his only season with the Rams. In eight games last fall, Hicks had 29 total tackles, four for loss, 1 1/2 sacks and two forced fumbles. Hicks played two seasons at Sacramento City College in 2007-08.

Moglia: "A raw but talented player that has a lot of physical tools."

#51 OVERALL - LB MARK HERZLICH, LB, BOSTON COLLEGE

A rookie, Herzlich was one of the best stories in all of college football in 2010. After missing the entire 2009 season due to his diagnosis of Ewing's sarcoma, a rare form of bone cancer, Herzlich returned for the 2010 season and started all 13 games for Boston College. He recorded 65 total tackles and 50 solo stops, both good for third on the team, while picking off four passes. Herzlich also had 3.5 tackles for loss, four pass breakups and two forced fumbles as a senior last fall.

Moglia: "Mark is a special person and we feel a special football player. We would like to offer Mark to opportunity to showcase his talents. He fits really well into what Coach Olivadotti plans to do on defense and we will do everything we can to get him to come to Omaha."

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United Football League Stories from May 2, 2011


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