The Jets moved up to open up Day 2 and selected Iowa RB Shonn Greene. Finding a trading partner in the Detroit Lions, the Jets gave up their selectons in Rounds 3 (No. 76 overall), 4 (No. 115) and 7 (No. 228) in this year's draft in order to get the former Hawkeye.
Green (5'10", 227) set a school-season record with 1,850 yards last season. He averaged a healthy 6.0 yards per carry and was an effective finisher, scoring 20 TDs on the ground in '08. Despite starting the season way down the depth chart, Green became the go-to-guy in the backfield and was named Big Ten Conference Offensive Player of the Year.
"This is a young man that I think has the ability to be a starting running back in this league," said Jets head coach Rex Ryan. "You look at his size, and he has outstanding vision for a back and that's what you have to have to be able to run the football."
After his sophomore season, Greene was ruled academically ineligible and enrolled at Kirkwood Community College in Iowa City. Once back in good academic standing, Green was an absolute monster last season. He had 307 carries and an astounding 57 of those runs went for at least 10 yards. And he was consistent week in and week out, running for more than 100 yards in each of the Hawkeyes 13 games.
"We want to a do a little ground-and-pound on people. You put Shonn in there with Thomas Jones and Leon Washington, I think that's about as it good as it gets," Ryan said. "We'll see. I think everybody's going to be excited about him once we start playing games for real. You're going to see why we took this young man."
A Sicklerville, N.J., native, Green is scheduled to arrive at the Jets' Florham Park complex later this afternoon.
Greene Multimedia
4/26 Shonn Greene 2009 Draft Press Conference
Jets Radio: First Interview with Jets RB, Shonn Greene
NFLN: Iowa RB Shonn Greene Highlights and Analysis
RB Shonn Greene - Highlights from Iowa
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Greene Photos/Wallpapers
Third Round Pick - RB Shonn Greene Photos* *RB Shonn Greene Wallpapers
