Former LSU defensive end Tyson Jackson chose not to attend the first two rounds of Saturday’s NFL draft to stay out of the bright lights of New York City.”I am a country boy,” Jackson said when he was introduced to reporters Sunday. “I couldn’t be in the New York, New York, Radio City-type atmosphere.”But Jackson might want to get used to the bright lights and celebrity status, as the Kansas City Chiefs selected the Edgard native with the third pick in the NFL draft.With the pick, two records were set. Jackson is the highest LSU defensive player ever to be selected in the draft.And Jackson’s selection also marked the sixth-straight year LSU had a player chosen in the first round of the draft, the longest current streak in the NCAA. Miami originally had the nation’s longest streak but didn’t have a first-round pick this year for the first time since 1995.”There’s some versatility to this player,” said Chiefs coach Todd Haley at Jackson’s introductory press conference. “He’s been [an end] and he’s been [a tackle]. You can get him in some potential matchups that work in his favor.”LSU coach Les Miles said in a news release he was “thrilled” for Jackson and his family.”He’s been a great example of what can be accomplished when you combine great ability, desire and work ethic with a school like LSU,” Jackson said.Jackson is the third LSU player the Chiefs have drafted in the last three years. The Chiefs selected former Tigers Dwayne Bowe and Glenn Dorsey in the first rounds of the 2007 and 2008 drafts.The Chiefs’ interest in Jackson’s grew after they saw him work at the NFL Scouting Combine and thought his frame would fit the 3-4 defense Haley and new Chiefs general manager Scott Pioli want to implement.”We spent a lot of time with the defensive coaches this week trying to understand how they want to play the scheme,” Pioli said. “We wanted to find the right players to fit in there.”Jackson was the only LSU player taken on the first day of the draft, but five LSU players were selected on the second day Sunday.Fullback Quinn Johnson was chosen by the Green Bay Packers with the ninth pick of the fifth round, and offensive lineman Herman Johnson was selected with the 31st pick of the fifth round by the Arizona Cardinals.Former LSU safety Curtis Taylor was drafted by the San Francisco 49ers in the seventh round.Former Tiger defensive lineman Ricky Jean-Francois, also taken in the final round, will join Taylor in San Francisco.Wide receiver Demetrius Byrd was taken by the San Diego Chargers with the 224th overall pick.Byrd was considered by most to be a late first-day, early second-day pick. But Byrd likely dropped to the seventh round because of concerns over his health after the car accident he was in last week in Miami.Details about the accident remain blurry, but ESPN reported during its draft coverage that Byrd’s doctors improved him from critical to good condition Friday, which could have likely been a deciding factor in the Chargers making the pick.The report also said Byrd has been removed from intensive care and has been moving and talking in the hospital.Notable Tigers to go undrafted were former linebacker Darry Beckwith, former defensive end Kirston Pittman and former kicker Colt David.–
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