April 27, 2003
New York, NY---With their first pick in the sixth round, and the 180th overall, the Minnesota Vikings selected Idaho State punter Eddie Johnson, making him the first Bengal draft choice since Merril Hoge was selected by the Pittsburgh Steelers in the 10th round in 1987.
Former Bengal Seth Burford, who transferred to Cal Poly after his sophomore season, was selected in the seventh round by San Diego last year.
Johnson was also the highest ISU draft choice since quarterback Mike Machurek was selected by the Detroit Lions in the 1982 draft. He was the second punter drafted this year, following San Diego's selection of Mike Scifries in the fifth round.
Johnson was a First Team All-Big Sky selection for the Bengals each of the past two seasons. In 2002, he averaged 46.2 yards per punt, good for fourth in NCAA I-AA, and he helped the Bengals to the third consecutive NCAA net punting title. In 2001, he was a First Team All-America selected by Walter Camp, the Associated Press, and the Sports Network, leading the nation with a 46.3 yard average, and setting an NCAA record with a 44.3 yard net average.
With the Vikings, Johnson will battle it out for the punting chores with Kyle Richardson and Nick Murphy. Richardson was Minnesota's punter last season, kicking 62 times for a 39.9 yard average (30th in the NFL), and a net of 35.3 yards. Richardson also was the holder on placements last season, a task Johnson has handled the past two seasons at Idaho State.
Johnson will also look to beat out former Jacksonville Jaguar kicker Hayden Epstein as a kickoff specialist. Epstein was signed last season to kickoff because the regular placekicker for the Vikings is Gary Andersen, who is the NFL's all-time leading scorer, but doesn't kickoff well and will turn 44 this July.
Minnesota finished in second place in the NFC Central last season, but was just 6-10 under first-year head coach Mike Tice.
