NEW YORK - After threatening Barry Sanders' season rushing record in college, Kevin Smith now can concentrate -- or at least dream about -- Sanders' marks with the Detroit Lions.

The Central Florida running back and nation's leading rusher in 2007 was chosen atop the third round of the NFL draft Sunday. The Lions even traded up two spots with Miami for the privilege of beginning the second day by grabbing Smith.

Last season, Smith rushed for 2,567 yards and scored 29 touchdowns. Sanders set the season record with 2,628 in 1988, when he won the Heisman Trophy. He went on to a Hall of Fame career over the next decade with the Lions.

Detroit will settle for a semblance of that from Smith, who left the Conference USA school as a junior after first saying he would stay.

"I never thought of myself as chasing Barry Sanders. He's a legend," Smith said. "My numbers might have been close, but I was just thrilled to be close to someone like that. Now I get to play in the same organization, which is a dream come true."

Enough to make a guy weep.

"The coach told me that they were going to come up to get me, and he put me on the phone with all the coaches, and I just burst into tears," Smith admitted.

Smith was one of two All-Americas chosen in the third round. Penn State linebacker Dan Connor went to Carolina 10 spots later.

"It's going to be great to be able to learn under a bunch of great linebackers and guys that have experience," Connor said. "I'm more looking forward to that, taking it all in and learning from guys who have proven themselves every week. ... "

Other third-rounders looking to prove themselves in the NFL will be defensive back Chevis Jackson (Atlanta), running back Jacob Hester (San Diego) and receiver Early Doucet (Arizona), all from national champion LSU. Hester could fill the role of LaDainian Tomlinson's stand-in previously held by Michael Turner, now with the Falcons, and the Cardinals need another wideout after losing Bryant Johnson to San Francisco.

Texas running back Jamaal Charles was chosen by Kansas City, and West Virginia RB Steve Slaton was taken by Houston. The Giants took Michigan's big-play receiver, Mario Manningham, who could be groomed to eventually replace fellow Wolverines alumnus Amani Toomer.

New England chose San Diego State quarterback Kevin O'Connell, causing one pundit to remark: "Is this the end of the Tom Brady era?"

Uh, no.

Another San Diego-area QB went late in the fifth round when Josh Johnson of the University of San Diego Toreros was chosen by Tampa Bay, which has as many quarterbacks as some divisions.

Southern California quarterback John David Booty was the second selection in the fifth round, by Minnesota after the Vikings made an in-division deal with Green Bay. The Packers already had their QB: Brian Brohm, taken in the second round Saturday, yet chose Matt Flynn of LSU in the seventh.

Tennessee passer Erik Ainge went to the Jets at No. 162 overall, six spots after Oregon's Dennis Dixon was taken by Pittsburgh. The Steelers are hoping the fast, versatile Dixon can recover from a severe knee injury to make their team.

Utah State guard Shawn Murphy, son of former baseball star Dale Murphy, went in the fourth round to Miami.

The Bengals grabbed Kansas tackle Anthony Collins, another All-America, midway in the fourth round, one spot after Cleveland got Missouri tight end Martin Rucker, also an All-America.

Two of the third-rounders, DTs Marcus Harrison of Arkansas and Pat Sims of Auburn, bring some baggage to the NFL.

Harrison was suspended at Arkansas last summer on drug charges. Sims once quit the Auburn team but returned to eventually become a starter despite what some called attitude problems.

The first special-teamer to go was punter Durant Brooks of Georgia Tech to the Redskins with the second choice of the sixth round. Placekicker Taylor Mehlhaff of Wisconsin went to the Saints 10 spots after that.

In all, the two days and seven rounds took 14 hours, 26 minutes. David Vobora, a defensive back/linebacker from Idaho, was the final selection.

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