Wheeler, Choice Taken In Round 3, 4 of NFL Draft

NEW YORK -- Former Georgia Tech linebacker Philip Wheeler was selected in the third round of the NFL Draft on Sunday by the Indianapolis Colts and former Yellow Jacket running back Tashard Choice went in the fourth round to the Dallas Cowboys.

Wheeler was the 30th pick in the third round and the 93rd selection overall. Choice was the 23rd pick of the fourth round and the 122nd selection overall.

Wheeler was the second player taken in the draft by the Colts and he was the first defensive player taken by Indianapolis. The Colts, who did not have a first-round selection, took Arizona State center Mike Pollak in the second round.

Choice was the fourth player selected by Dallas and he was the second running back taken by the Cowboys, who used on of their two first-round picks on Arkansas' Felix Jones.

As expected, no Georgia Tech players were taken in rounds 1 or 2.

Wheeler is the first Yellow Jacket ever to be drafted by the Colts since that franchise moved to Indianapolis. Choice is the first Tech player taken by the Cowboys since linebacker Willis Crockett in 1989.

At least two Tech players have gone in the draft in each of the last three years and for the sixth time in the last seven years.

Choice is the seventh Yellow Jacket to be drafted over the last three years. Wheeler is the third Tech player over the last three years to go in round 3 or higher.

With Wheeler's selection, five Georgia Tech linebackers have gone in the draft since 2002. The most recent was Gerris Wilkinson, who was taken in the third round of the 2006 draft by the New York Giants. Choice is the third Tech running back to be drafted since 2002, joining P.J. Daniels in 2006 and Tony Hollings in 2002.

Last year two Yellow Jackets were drafted - Calvin Johnson in the first round by the Detroit Lions and Mansfield Wrotto in the fourth round by Seattle. Three players - Wilkinson, P.J. Daniels and Dawan Landry - were drafted in 2006. No Yellow Jackets were taken in 2005.

There were 19 former Georgia Tech players on NFL rosters at the close of the 2007 season including three on the roster of the World Champion New York Giants.

The 2008 draft has been a banner one for the ACC. Two ACC players - Virginia's Chris Long and Boston College's Matt Ryan - were taken in the top three selections. Two ACC players have gone in the top four picks in each of the last three years. The ACC led all conferences with seven first-round selections. Over the last three years combined, 25 ACC players have gone in the first round. Sixteen ACC players were taken in the first three rounds.