Saturday afternoon former Wisconsin Badger defensive tackle Wendell Bryant got the call of his life.
Surrounded by his family at the Marriott Hotel in Middleton, Bryant received a phone call from the Arizona Cardinals telling him he was going to be their selection with the No. 12 pick in the 2002 National Football League Draft.
Bryant, as he displayed during his news conference later that afternoon, could not contain his excitement when asked about his initial reaction.
\Yes,"" Bryant said, pumping his left fist in the air. ""It's a great moment. My mom was there. I hugged her. All my people were around me. It was really cool.""
Bryant was the third defensive tackle and fifth defensive lineman overall taken in the draft.
Though he was drafted No. 12, Bryant said he did not have an initial preference as to where he wanted to go.
""I had no expectations, really, going into [the draft],"" Bryant said. ""I just wanted to go to a team, period.""
While Bryant said he was anxious for Saturday, he could not quite compare it to Christmas and the expectation of receiving a big present.
""It's more of a relief feeling than anything,"" Bryant said. ""It's more like, 'Well, now I can move on and get started with the rest of my life.'""
When Bryant reports for training camp, that relief feeling will stop immediately, as he will be under the tutelage of Hall of Fame defensive tackle and member of the Pittsburgh Steelers' famed ""Steel Curtain"" defense, ""Mean"" Joe Greene.
Bryant said he looks forward to the opportunity to play under him: ""A Hall of Famer ... a person that has been in the league and seen the game progress as he has and has the knowledge he has, you can do nothing but learn from that.""
Bryant became the first Wisconsin defensive lineman to be taken in the opening round of the draft since 1985, when Daryl Sims went No. 20 to Pittsburgh.
Wisconsin football Head Coach Barry Alvarez said he was excited about Bryant's selection.
""I figured he'd be right around [No. 10],"" Alvarez said. ""I'm really happy for him. It's a great opportunity for Wendell and he is sure deserving of it.""
While Bryant was the only Badger selected during the opening day of the draft, three of his teammates were taken Sunday afternoon.
Cornerback Mike Echols, projected by some to go as high as the second round, slipped to the fourth round and was taken with the 110th overall selection by the Tennessee Titans. Five picks later, the Titans also added another player from Wisconsin as they chose UW-Stout cornerback Tony Beckham.
Both Echols and Beckham are expected to compete for the Titans' one starting cornerback position this fall.
In need of a linebacker, the New York Giants added depth by taking Badger middle linebacker Nick Griesen one round later.
The final Wisconsin player to be taken in the 2002 Draft was tight end Mark Anelli, who was taken in the sixth round by San Francisco with the 201st selection.
UW draft hopefuls wide receiver Nick Davis and fullback Chad Kuhns were not drafted, but can sign a free-agent contract with an NFL team.
