Three Red Raiders Taken In 2005 NFL Draft
April 24, 2005 | Football
April 24, 2005
LUBBOCK, Texas - Former Texas Tech lineman Dylan Gandy and Daniel Loper along with linebacker Mike Smith were drafted on the second day of the 2005 NFL Draft. The three draft picks are the most in the Mike Leach era.
Dylan Gandy was taken as the 129th overall pick in the fourth round by the Indianapolis Colts. He helped lead the Red Raider passing attack to its third-straight NCAA passing record in his first season as the starter at center in 2004. Tech opened the season with three-straight 400-yard passing games and rattled off three more over the course of the season. Gandy started in every game in 2004 and provided a consistent force on an offensive line and was selected to the coaches All-Big 12 Conference Honorable Mention team. Gandy and his teammates along the offensive line enabled the Red Raiders to post one of the nation's top 10 total offenses and scoring offenses.
Daniel Loper was taken in the fifth round of the draft by the Tennessee Titans and was the 150th overall pick. The seasoned veteran anchored an offensive line that protected first-year starting quarterback Sonny Cumbie, who led the country in passing and total offense. Loper was regarded as one of the top offensive linemen in the Big 12 Conference and was named to several all-conference teams.
Linebacker Mike Smith was the third Red Raider selected as he went to the Baltimore Ravens in the seventh round and was the 235th overall pick. Smith was a 2004 All-Big 12 selection after logging 83 tackles, including seven and a half tackles for a loss.