Dolphins draft Hilliard

DAVID LESNICK/The Daily Inter Lake

That much-anticipated phone call finally came for Lex Hilliard in the early afternoon on Sunday.

"They asked how would it sound to be a (member of the) Miami Dolphins," Hilliard said.

"It was their general manager (calling). I said GREAT. He said 'OK, I will put the card in.'"

The Dolphins followed through by selecting Hilliard in the sixth round of the NFL draft. The record-setting running back from the University of Montana was the 38th selection in that round and the 204th pick overall.

"I really didn't care," Hilliard said of which day he was drafted.

"Of course, every guy wants to go the first day. But reality tells you not everyone goes the first day."

The former Flathead High School standout watched the two-day draft on ESPN from a home in Missoula.

"I watched it because a lot of guys I trained with were going the first day," he said.

"I wanted to watch them walk across the stage (at Radio City Music Hall in New York City) or get their named called."

Hilliard said he was a little surprised Miami drafted him. He met with Giant representatives in New York and also went to San Diego to visit with the Chargers and met with the Seahawks in Seattle.

"Wonderful climate," Hilliard said of Miami.

"Shoot, probably the best fit for me. They are not real deep in running backs and they are building a new program."

Hilliard said the Dolphins will contact him today. He then plans to fly to Miami on Wednesday or Thursday and will participate in the team's mini-camp, which begins Friday.

"I think the Dolphins will be a good fit for him because of how things are going there," UM head coach Bobby Hauck said.

"Coach (Bill) Parcells has had a couple of our guys over the years. He knows the MO of our players - they are tough, physical and work at it."

Hilliard said he wasn't worried about not being drafted, but got a little anxious when teammate Kroy Biermann, a 6-3, 240-pound defensive end from Hardin, was chosen in the fifth round by the Atlanta Falcons.

"Man, I should get called here any minute now after Kroy," Hilliard said.

"And then the Giants had back-to-back picks (in the sixth round.) I was thinking I was going there. Then those two picks passed."

The Giants selected Andre Woodson, a quarterback from Kentucky, and Robert Henderson, a defensive end from Southern Mississippi.

Miami called five selections later.

"When you get drafted in the fourth, fifth and sixth rounds, I think you have a great opportunity to make the team," Hauck said.

"It's a good opportunity for both Lex and Kroy."

Hilliard was the 22nd running back picked. Five were taken in the sixth round, including Michigan's Mike Hart. He went to the Indianapolis Colts two selections before Hilliard.

Five more running backs were drafted after Hilliard.

According to the ESPN NFL Draft Tracker: Hilliard lined up at running back at Montana and should be a productive short-yardage runner at the NFL level. However, he's probably going to fit better at fullback in the NFL; he doesn't have great speed or elusiveness. It will also take some time for him to develop as a blocker.

That analysis was by ESPN Scouts Inc.

Hilliard holds Montana's record for rushing touchdowns (50) and total touchdowns (52). He ranks second in UM career rushing yards with 4,018.

In 49 games, he rushed for over 100 yards 18 times.

Last season, Hilliard rushed for 1,134 yards and 16 touchdowns.

Hilliard was named Montana's MVP (Steve Carlson Award) his senior season he was a co-recipient of UM's Terry Dillon Award.

Biermann won the Buck Buchanan Award (top defensive player in Division I Football Championship Subdivision) in 2007 and was named a first team All-American and Big Sky MVP.

Biermann's 33 sacks ranks him second in UM history.

The Grizzlies have had 27 players drafted since 1963, according to a UM press released. UM's last NFL draft pick was halfback Justin Green, a fifth-round pick by the Baltimore Ravens in 2005.

It has been two decades since two Grizzly players were drafted in the NFL in the same year.

The last time Montana had two players selected in one year was in 1988, when offensive tackle Larry Clarkson was taken in the eight round by San Francisco 49ers and defensive tackle Pat Foster was tabbed in the ninth round by the Los Angeles Rams.

The two highest Grizzly draftees ever (since 1963) was a pair of offensive linemen who were both taken in the second round - Scott Gragg (New York Giants in 1995) and Steve Okoniewski (Atlanta Falcons in1972).