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As this weekend's NFL Draft went on, pick-by-pick, round-by-round, former Terrapin linebacker Erin Henderson and his fans never saw the third-team All-American's name called.

Henderson was not alone, as fellow Terp standouts guard Andrew Crummey, tight end Joey Haynos, cornerback Isaiah Gardner and running backs Lance Ball and Keon Lattimore also went undrafted. Defensive tackle Dre Moore, picked in the fourth round, 115th overall, by the Tampa Bay Buccaneers, was the only former Terp to be drafted.

Even Moore, who notched six sacks en route to first-team All-ACC honors last season, went later than many projected. And Moore made clear that his status as the 115th player drafted will not be forgotten.

"By the end of my rookie year, 31 teams will be shaking their head," Moore said to the St. Petersburg Times.

Henderson will apparently have a similar opportunity.

Like many undrafted college stars, Henderson and Gardner found NFL homes quickly. According to the Minneapolis Star-Tribune, Henderson reportedly signed a contract with the Minnesota Vikings. E.J. Henderson, Erin's brother and a former Terp star, is the Vikings' starting middle linebacker.

Gardner signed with the Jacksonville Jaguars according to the Associated Press.

Henderson's slip is tough to comprehend. Though knee injuries throughout his college career and a slender lower body hurt his draft stock, the first-team All-ACC defender was generally projected as a third- or fourth-rounder.

"We think Henderson is an awfully big gamble as a Day 1 draft pick," ESPN's Scouts, Inc. NFL Draft profile reads. This year, the first day of the draft consisted of just the first two rounds.

Neither Moore's agent nor Henderson returned phone calls.

The Miami Dolphins started the draft by taking Michigan offensive tackle Jake Long. No. 2-overall pick Chris Long from Virginia is headed to the Rams after a senior season that included a 10-tackle, two-sack performance against the Terps in the Cavaliers' 18-17 win on Oct. 20, 2007.

ajosephdbk@gmail.com

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