FOLLOWING IS A BIO ON ARRINGTON:
The New Orleans Saints traded back into the seventh round and drafted Michigan junior WR Adrian Arrington with the 237th selection overall. The trade was made with the Green Bay Packers for a sixth round draft choice in 2009.
ADRIAN ARRINGTON
Wide Receiver
University of Michigan Wolverines
#16
6:03.2-192
Cedar Rapids, Iowa
Washington High School
OVERVIEW
With just one year as a full-time starter under his belt, Wolverine fans were looking forward to watching the further development of Arrington into a clutch receiver in 2008. However, with the arrival of new head coach Rich Rodriguez and the spread offense, the slot receiver/flanker decided it was best to test his wares in the NFL rather than return to school.
In a press conference to announce his departure, Arrington said in his statement, "Today is a very emotional day for me. As much as I will miss my teammates, friends and the Michigan football family, I have always dreamed about playing in the NFL. "I believe that I am ready to take on this challenge and move on to the next level. Though I will be catching passes in another city starting next fall, I will always be a Michigan man."
At Washington High School, Arrington was rated the fifth-best wide receiver in the country by ESPN's Tom Lemming. He was named to the Top 100 Dream Team and rated the 11th-best receiver in the country by Prep Star. Rivals.com rated him the top prospect in Iowa, giving him a four-star prospect grade. Max Emfinger rated him as the nation's sixth-best receiver and gave him a five-star prospect mark.
Arrington added first-team All-State honors from the Des Moines Register and the Iowa Newspaper Association. He was named the Gatorade Player of the Year for the state of Iowa as a senior and also earned first-team All-Conference and All-Metro honors. He was selected to play in the 2004 US Army All-American Game in San Antonio, Texas. As a junior, he received second-team Class 4A All-State and first-team All-Conference and All-Metro accolades.
During his prep career, Arrington caught 100 career passes for 1,547 yards and 23 touch-downs while returning 24 kickoffs for 642 yards with one score and 38 punts for 442 yards with another touchdown. He intercepted 11 passes and made 95 tackles in his career on defense. He snatched 57 passes for 914 yards and 10 touchdowns as a senior, while also posting 29 tackles, three interceptions and two fumble recoveries.
Arrington grabbed 34 passes for 424 yards and five touchdown catches, along with 11 rushes for 11 yards and two touchdowns as a junior. He also made 38 tackles along with five interceptions that season. He had eight catches for 140 yards and three touchdowns along with 38 tackles and three interceptions as a sophomore, and also made one catch for nine yards as a freshman. In basketball, he was rated one of the top players in the Iowa class of 2004 and also lettered in track, where he was timed at a career-best 10.9 seconds in the 100-meters.
Arrington arrived on Michigan's campus as a 176-pound freshman in 2004, as the Wolverines won a recruiting battle for his services from Pittsburgh, UCLA and Iowa. He earned his first varsity letter, seeing limited action in eight games, as he caught two passes for 12 yards. The following season, Arrington suffered a right ankle fracture returning a kickoff in the season opener vs. Northern Illinois. His surgery would sideline him for the rest of the year.
In 2006, Arrington appeared in thirteen games, starting at the inside slot position vs. Minnesota and Michigan State and at flanker vs. Penn State and Iowa. He ranked second on the squad with 40 receptions for 544 yards (13.8 avg) and eight touchdowns. He also recorded one solo tackle in the Wisconsin clash.
Arrington was the recipient of the Desmond Howard Award in 2007, given to the team's top receiver. He started all thirteen games at flanker, finishing second on the team with 67 catches for 882 yards (13.2 avg) and eight touchdowns. He also had a solo tackle vs. Florida and completed an 11-yard scoring pass on a reverse to Mario Manningham in the Notre Dame clash.
In 35 games at Michigan, Arrington started 18 contests. He collected 1,438 yards with sixteen touchdowns on 109 receptions (13.2 avg), as he scored 96 points. He recorded two solo tackles, returned a kickoff 15 yards and completed 1-of-2 passes for an 11-yard score.
CAREER NOTES
Arrington's 67 receptions in 2007 tied Tai Streets (1998), David Terrell (2000) and Braylon Edwards (2002) for eighth on the school's season-record list.
2007 SEASON
Recipient of the Desmond Howard Award, given to the team's top receiver…Started all thirteen games at flanker, but also saw action in the slot…Ranked second on the team and tied for tenth in the Big Ten Conference with a career-high 67 receptions, as he placed eighth in the league with 882 yards (13.2 avg)…Had eight touchdown receptions, scoring 48 points…Completed 1-of-2 passes for an 11-yard touchdown vs. Illinois and also recorded a solo tackle vs. Florida in the Capital One Bowl…Caught a pass in every game, extending his string to 26 consecutive contests with at least one reception…Gained over 100 yards receiving vs. Eastern Michigan, Wisconsin and Florida.
2006 SEASON
Played in all thirteen games, starting at the slot receiver position vs. Michigan State and Minnesota and at flanker vs. Penn State and Iowa…Finished second on the squad with 40 receptions for 544 yards (13.6 avg) and eight touchdowns…Scored 48 points and posted a solo tackle in the Wisconsin clash.
2005 SEASON
Suffered a right ankle fracture after returning a kickoff 15 yards vs. Northern Illinois in the season opener…Underwent surgery to have a mental plate and seven screws placed in his ankle, missing the rest of the season.
2004 SEASON
Appeared in eight games as a true freshman, sitting out the Notre Dame, San Diego State, Illinois and Michigan State contests…Listed third on the depth chart behind Jason Avant and Carl Tabb at flanker…Caught a pair of passes for 12 yards…His first career catch was good for 7 yards vs. Indiana…Added a 5-yard reception the next game vs. Minnesota.
CAMPUS AGILITY TESTS
4.54 in the 40-yard dash…225-pound bench press…33-inch vertical jump…32 7/8-inch arm length…9 1/8-inch hands.
HIGH SCHOOL
Attended Washington (Cedar Rapids, Ia.) High School, playing football for head coach Paul James…Rated the fifth-best wide receiver in the country by ESPN's Tom Lemming… Named to the Top 100 Dream Team and rated the 11th-best receiver in the country by Prep Star…Rivals.com rated him the top prospect in Iowa, giving him a four-star prospect grade…Max Emfinger rated him as the nation's sixth-best receiver and gave him a five-star prospect mark…Added first-team All-State honors from the Des Moines Register and the Iowa Newspaper Association…Named the Gatorade Player of the Year for the state of Iowa as a senior and also earned first-team All-Conference and All-Metro honors…Selected to play in the 2004 US Army All-American Game in San Antonio, Texas…As a junior, he received second-team Class 4A All-State and first-team All-Conference and All-Metro accolades…During his prep career, Arrington caught 100 career passes for 1,547 yards and 23 touchdowns while returning 24 kickoffs for 642 yards with one score and 38 punts for 442 yards with another touchdown…Intercepted 11 passes and made 95 tackles in his career on defense…Snatched 57 passes for 914 yards and 10 touchdowns as a senior, while also posting 29 tackles, three interceptions and two fumble recoveries…Grabbed 34 passes for 424 yards and five touchdown catches, along with 11 rushes for 11 yards and two touchdowns as a junior…Also made 38 tackles along with five interceptions that season…Had eight catches for 140 yards and three touchdowns along with 38 tackles and three interceptions as a sophomore, and also made one catch for nine yards as a fresh-man…In basketball, he was rated one of the top players in the Iowa class of 2004 and also lettered in track, where he was timed at a career-best 10.9 seconds in the 100-meters.
PERSONAL
General Studies major, enrolled in the College of Literature, Science and the Arts...Born Adrian Jarrard Arrington on 11/07/85...Resides in Cedar Rapids, Iowa. **
QUESTION AND ANSWERS WITH ADRIAN ARRINGTON
**Q:
What do you think of getting picked up by the Saints in last minute fashion?*
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A:
I loved it. I'm excited out of my mind.*
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**Q:
Coming out as a junior, were you starting to get nervous that your name wasn't getting called?*
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A:
A little bit, especially towards the seventh round. I had been hearing throughout this process that I would be second to sixth round maximum or second to fourth or fifth round. It was a little nervewracking and a little frustrating. Everything worked out right.*
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**Q:
Did any teams call you right before the Saints?*
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A:
A couple. I talked to the Packers. They wanted me to come there as a free agent. The Cowboys liked me and wanted to bring me in as a free agent.*
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**Q:
What came into your decision to declare early?*
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A:
The time was right. There were a couple of reasons. First of all with the new coaching staff coming into Michigan, I wasn't sure how the offense was going to be with Rich Rodriguez. I heard he was going to run his offense like he did at West Virginia and how he was at Tulane. The final decision was when our backup quarterback, who was going to start for us here this year transferred to Arkansas. There really is no quarterback there right now. They're trying to find one. That kind of ultimately made me decide that I think I'm ready to play at this level anyway. Why not go for my dreams?*
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