When Oakland Raiders made Jihad Ward their second round pick, 44th overall, tonight it drew some mixed reaction. Ward was projected to be a second-rounder by most draftniks, and the NFL Network’s Mike Mayock has consistently been talking about Jihad Ward as a second round talent since February.
First off it’s pronounced juh-HODD, not jee-hahd as it’s spelled. Although it’s spelled the same, it’s not pronounced the same as a holy war being fought by ISIS. Twitter went nuts with this angle anyway.
All of Raider nation about to end up on an NSA watch list. #JihadWard #NFLDraft @AnthonyF525
— Matt (@MattF40) April 30, 2016
Ward is Illinois’ first NFL Draft pick since 2013 and is the highest UI draft pick since 2012, when three Illini went 44 or higher.
“Once I got the call from the Raiders, I dropped into tears,” Jihad Ward said of being drafted.
“It’s a great feeling. I feel like I gave my family a lot of hope. I came from nothing, so when I go to Oakland I’ll have that mindset of ‘I have not made it.’ I’m an Illini for life, but it’s time to move on and I’m happy with my situation right now. My next goal is to be one of the best d-linemen in Oakland.”
The 6-5, 297-pound defensive lineman from Philadelphia totaled 53 tackles, 3.5 TFLs, 1.5 sacks, two PBUs, two QB hurries, one forced fumble and one fumble recovery in 2015 to earn honorable mention All-Big Ten honors.
In 2014, Ward earned All-Big Ten accolades after posting 51 tackles, 8.5 TFLs, 3.0 sacks, five QB hurries, two forced fumbles and one PBU.
A junior-college transfer from Globe Tech (NY), Ward started all 25 games he played in as an Illini. In two seasons at Illinois, he totaled 104 tackles, 12.0 TFLs, 4.5 sacks, three PBUs, three forced fumbles and five fumble recoveries while seeing snaps at both defensive end and defensive tackle. Jihad Ward is the sixth Illini defensive lineman drafted since 2009 (DE Will Davis 2009, DT Corey Liuget 2011, DE Whitney Mercilus 2012, DT Akeem Spence 2013, DE Michael Buchanan 2013)
Jihad Ward is the sixth Illinois player drafted by the Raiders and the first since 1988 (Scott Davis – 1st round, 25th pick) Here are some of the more interesting Twitter reactions to this draft pick. Ward went exactly one pick ahead of Heisman Trophy winner Derrick Henry from Alabama.
Jihad Ward was also taken ahead of two Crimson Tide DL who were projected to be first-rounders- A’Shawn Robinson and Jarran Reed.
I guess the Lovie Smith effect has already kicked in!
Jihad Ward regressed as a pass-rusher in 2015, posting an above-average grade just once (versus Purdue).
— PFF (@PFF) April 30, 2016
Raiders get a D+ for Jihad Ward pick: https://t.co/QlCvYeOwnL. The No. 159 player on the PFF board drafted at No. 44.
— PFF (@PFF) April 30, 2016
There are NFL teams who believe Raiders' 2nd-round pick, DE Jihad Ward, will need arthroscopic knee surgery that could sideline him 6 weeks.
— Adam Schefter (@AdamSchefter) April 30, 2016
https://twitter.com/JoshNorris/status/726201157895479296
Jihad Ward is 6'5", 297 lbs.
He is going to Oakland to play with Khalil Mack.https://t.co/MlTG9sMBOO
— NFL on ESPN (@ESPNNFL) April 30, 2016
Paul M. Banks runs The Sports Bank.net, partnered with FOX Sports Engage Network. and News Now. Banks, a former writer for the Washington Times, currently contributes regularly to the Chicago Tribune’s RedEye publication and Bold Global.
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