METAIRIE, La. (AP) – The New Orleans Saints selected Oklahoma’s Kenny Stills Jr. with their fifth round pick in the NFL draft, then picked up little-known Division II defensive end Rufus Johnson in the sixth round.
The 6-foot, 194-pound Stills was New Orleans’ first pick on Saturday because the club dealt its fourth-round pick as part of a trade with Miami in order to select Georgia defensive tackle John Jenkins with the 82nd overall pick Friday night.
Stills, the son of former NFL safety Kenny Stills, had a 40-yard dash time of 4.38 at the NFL combine. His uncle, Gary Stills, also played in the NFL, at linebacker.
Last season, Stills was named All-Big 12 after making 82 receptions for 959 yards and 11 touchdowns.
The selection of Stills marks the third straight season that New Orleans drafted a player whose father played in the NFL. Two seasons ago, it was two in the first round in Cam Jordan and Mark Ingram. Last year, it was Nick Toon.
Stills, who grew up in San Diego and who during high school ran routes for Drew Brees during Brees’ offseason workouts, started 38 games for the Sooners. He had 2,594 yards receiving and 24 TDs in his three seasons at Oklahoma. His 204 receptions rank third in school history.
He also returned punts periodically and ran the ball a few times.
In 2010, he set Oklahoma freshman marks for receptions with 61 and yards receiving with 786.
The 6-foot-5, 272-pound Johnson played at Division II Tarleton State in Texas. Last season, he had 50 tackles, including 17.5 tackles for losses, 10 of them sacks. He was named the Lone Star Conference defensive lineman of the year.
Stills and Johnson joined New Orleans’ first-round pick, Texas safety Kenny Vaccaro and its other third-rounder, offensive tackle Terron Armstead of Arkansas-Pine Bluff.
The Saints entered the draft without a pick in the seventh round, which had been traded previously.
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