University of Texas S Michael Griffin and CB Aaron Ross were chosen back-to-back by the Tennessee Titans with the 19th overall pick and the New York Giants with the 20th overall pick, respectively, in the first round of the 2007 NFL Draft on Saturday.

		WATCH THE VIDEO
	Horns Drafted Michael Griffin and Aaron Ross were picked in the 1st round of the NFL Draft.

The duo of Griffin and Ross becomes the second pair of defensive backs to be drafted in the first round in the same year in UT history, joining Johnnie Johnson (Los Angeles Rams) and Derrick Hatchett (Baltimore Colts) in 1980.

"I couldn't be more excited," Griffin said. "I've had a lot of chances to watch the Titans in keeping up with Vince Young and the other Longhorns there, and they're an exciting team to watch. They were just on the verge of making the playoffs last year, and I hope I can go in and make an impact. I've looked forward to today for a long time, and I'm really happy and a little relieved. Plus, to go back-to-back with Aaron, it's something that's really special."

With the selections, Texas has had a first-round pick in each of the last four years, which ties a UT record set from 1977-80.

"I really can't put into words how excited I am right now," Ross said. "The last few months have been so hectic. There was a lot going on and it went by so fast that none of it has sunk in yet. I'm sure it will in time, but I'm so excited about being picked by the Giants. I reached a lifelong dream of being drafted into the NFL, and I'm heading to New York, The Big Apple. What a great day. Now I'm just really looking forward to taking the next step in my career and in life."

In addition, Texas is the only school in the nation to have two first round selections in each of the last four years, which is a UT first, and also the only one to do so in six of the last seven years. Prior to Mack Brown's arrival, Texas had two first-round selections just four times in school history.

"I was pretty low key about the whole thing, then when Mike's name got called, it all happened pretty fast," Ross said. "I was thinking about how excited I was for him, when I got my call. What a great thing for Texas and coach Akina for Mike and I to go back-to-back. I know that's something we'll talk about for a long time, the fact that we went on consecutive picks in the NFL Draft. That doesn't happen very often for guys on the same team. For the two of us, who are good friends and longtime teammates, it's a great thing."

Griffin and Ross give Texas a total of seven DBs selected in the last six years, joining Michael Huff (2006 - Oakland Raiders, first round), Cedric Griffin (2006 - Minnesota Vikings, second round), Nathan Vasher (2004 - Chicago Bears, fourth round), Rod Babers (2003 - New York Giants, fourth round), and Quentin Jammer (2002 - San Diego Chargers, first round). They are also the 12th and 13th first round selection of the Mack Brown era and the 39th and 40th Longhorns chosen in the opening round since 1936.

"We thought Michael could be a corner or safety (coming in)," said head coach Mack Brown. "He wanted to be a DB, and we wanted him to be one. He is a ferocious hitter. He's got great speed, but as much as anything else, he blocked eight punts and became a difference maker on special teams and took great pride in it. Not only was he a great safety, but when you get the addition of special teams, that adds so much to the NFL."

Griffin, who was tabbed a second-team All-American by The Associated Press and the Walter Camp Football Foundation, was named a semifinalist for the 2006 Lott Trophy (defensive IMPACT player of the year). He has appeared in 50 career games with 28 starts and posted 364 tackles, 15 TFL, four sacks, eight INTs, 23 PBU, nine forced fumbles, seven fumble recoveries and a UT-record eight blocked punts. His 364 tackles rank eighth on UT's all-time list and his eight blocked punts rank second on the NCAA all-time list and first on UT's list. He started all 13 games at free safety in 2006 and earned first-team All-Big 12 honors from The Associated Press and the league's coaches, while leading the team with 126 tackles.

"Michael played early on and made a niche as a special teams player, and that too is what really upped his value for a lot of the NFL people," said co-defensive coordinator and defensive backs coach Duane Akina. "Not only did he have a skill as a punt blocker, but as a gunner, too. It's another sign of unselfishness - they could really feel how that was important to him. He showed great athletic ability as he was coming up. We played him as a free player here, but he was also an outstanding cover guy. He's much like Cedric Griffin because he has the ability to be a great cover player, yet he is a very physical defensive back with range. Graduating in four years showed another high-character aspect of him, much like Michael Huff."

The Titans have now selected a Longhorn with their first pick in each of the last two years, following their selection of QB Vince Young with the third overall pick in last year's draft. Tennessee has also draft a Texas player in each of the last three years, including TE Bo Scaife in the sixth round of the 2005 draft.

Ross becomes the first Longhorn selected by the Giants since Babers in the fourth round of the 2003 draft.

"Aaron is so unique," said Brown. "He was persistent to get here. That story has been told. Also, we used to play guys on both sides of the ball in early camp as freshmen to see which position they should play. Darryl Drake, who was our receivers coach at that time, felt like Aaron might be the best receiver on our team in freshman camp. He just has fabulous hands and instincts to catch the ball. That led him to being one of the best punt returners in school history.

"He's got great feet, can cover, and he's got hand-eye coordination and deceptiveness like Dre Bly had at North Carolina for us. He does such a great job of forcing turnovers, but again, you've got the special teams addition. The NFL now, as we are, is talking so much about forcing turnovers, they need defensive backs that can catch and have the instincts to break on the ball. His tailback and receiver abilities in high school have really helped him do that in college."

Texas' second consecutive Thorpe Award winner, Ross was tabbed first-team All-America and earned Big 12 Defensive Player of the Year honors from multiple publications and was a unanimous first-team All-Big 12 performer. He played in 51 career games with 205 tackles, 33 PBU, 10 INTs, three forced fumbles and two fumble recoveries. He also has been Texas' top punt returner for the past three seasons, returning 76 career punts (No. 5 on UT's all-time list) for 893 yards (No. 5 on UT's all-time list) and three TDs (T-No. 1 on UT's all-time list).

He started all 13 games in 2006 and finished third on the team in tackles with 80, to go along with six INTs, 19 PBU, three TFL, a sack, three forced fumbles and two fumble recoveries. He also returned 23 punts for 240 yards and a TD.

"Aaron, it's been well documented that he's had to overcome so much to get where he is today, so it's just a wonderful story," said Akina. "He's where he is today for all of the right reasons. He's worked hard and he's had to overcome so much adversity and be resilient just to get to The University of Texas, and then to split time like he did early in his career and be patient, it was another sign of unselfishness.

"He's one of the best athletes I've ever had the opportunity to coach. He got a real gift about him in terms of making plays, and that's what so many of the NFL people like. Whenever I talk to them and they ask me who he's like; he's like Nathan Vasher. He has the ability to make plays in really critical times in the game."