NFL draft
End was near, but Bears take Ohio State's Barton
Monday,
April 28, 2008 3:16 AM
THE COLUMBUS DISPATCH
RENEE SAUER | DISPATCH
"At
least someone wanted me and was willing to give me a chance. But, oh
man, was it a long day." — Ohio State offensive tackle Kirk Barton
Though he tried to remain calm, Kirk Barton couldn't help but get upset as he watched the waning
picks in the NFL draft yesterday.
The Ohio State offensive tackle was projected to be taken anywhere from the fourth to the sixth
round. But as the seventh round came and he was still sitting, undrafted, in his Canton home,
Barton was suffering.
"It was hard, down towards the last 30, 20, 10 picks, wondering, 'Is it going to happen?' "
Barton said.
It did happen, finally. Chicago drafted him with the 247th overall pick, with just five picks
left in the draft.
He was the third and final Buckeyes player drafted. Defensive end Vernon Gholston went sixth
overall to the New York Jets on Saturday, and linebacker Larry Grant was a seventh-round selection
(214th overall) of San Francisco yesterday.
Two OSU fullbacks signed free-agent deals immediately after the draft: Dionte Johnson with
Arizona and Tyler Whaley with Cincinnati.
But of them all, Barton had the most difficult weekend. He was a four-year starter for OSU, and
last season earned all-Big Ten and All-America honors.
Barton said he's not sure why he slipped. He does know the experience will send him to the Bears
with something to prove.
"I'll be ready to go for minicamp," he said. "At least someone wanted me and was willing to give
me a chance. But, oh man, was it a long day."
Grant was drafted about where he was projected to go -- late, if at all.
He was thrilled the 49ers drafted him. It will be a homecoming for Grant, who spent the majority
of his childhood in California and also played the 2004 and 2005 seasons at San Francisco City
College before transferring to Ohio State.
He spent the draft with family in Sacramento, Calif.
"I've got a lot of family in the San Francisco area," Grant said. "My emotions are out of
control right now, I'm so happy and excited."
Johnson feels he's in good hands with Arizona. The running backs coach who called him numerous
times yesterday is Maurice Carthon, a former New York Giants teammate of Dionte's father, Pepper
Johnson.
Dionte was looking forward to heading to Glendale, Ariz., for minicamp this weekend.
"I've got some unfinished business in that stadium," he said, referring to Ohio State's loss to
Florida in January 2007.
Whaley's signing was a bit of a surprise, but it fits his pattern. He walked on to Ohio State
five years ago as an offensive lineman, and he didn't see significant playing time until switching
to fullback in 2007.
He parlayed that year of experience into a $3,000 signing bonus and a chance to make the roster
of the Bengals, his favorite team as a kid growing up in Ironton, Ohio.
"It's another dream come true, just like walking on to Ohio State," Whaley said. "I couldn't ask
for more."