Chicago Bears: April 2009 Archives

A couple of former Inland Valley standouts saw their names called in the NFL Draft Sunday, one fairly early this morning and one just about 10-15 minutes ago.

San Jose State defensive lineman Jarron Gilbert, a Chino High School graduate, was picked by the Chicago Bears with the fourth selection of the third round (68th overall). Gilbert, who can play both end and tackle, was the Bears' first selection of the 2009 Draft and the second Chino grad to be picked in the last two years - joining defensive tackle Sedrick Ellis, the first-round pick of the New Orleans Saints a year ago.

California tight end Cameron Morrah, a Claremont High School graduate, was recently picked by the Seattle Seahawks with the 39th pick in the seventh round (248th overall). Morrah, the ninth-to-last selection, was the second Baseline League alum to be drafted this season, along with Rancho Cucamonga's Patrick Chung, and the fifth to be drafted in the last three years (Morrah, Chung, Rancho Cucamonga's Gerald Alexander, Rancho Cucamonga's Terrell Thomas and Alta Loma's Eric Weddle).

Not drafted today, but likely to be signed as a rookie free agent, is Boise State running back Ian Johnson, a Damien graduate. Johnson, a native of San Dimas, is most famous for scoring the winning 2-point conversion in the 2007 Fiesta Bowl against Oklahoma and proposing to Boise State cheerleader Chrissy Popadics on national television after the postgame interview.