Former LSU players Kelvin Sheppard and Stevan Ridley may have played their last collegiate football games together, but could face each other for years to come after learning their fates Friday during the 2011 NFL Draft.
Sheppard, a middle linebacker, was drafted by the Buffalo Bills in the third round with the 68th pick. Five picks later, Buffalo’s long-hated rival, the New England Patriots, chose Ridley with the 73rd pick to bolster its running back corps.
Sheppard, Ridley defensive tackle Drake Nevis and offensive tackle Joseph Barksdale, who were drafted later in the third round, join cornerback Patrick Peterson as the five LSU players drafted so far. Peterson was selected Thursday night by the Arizona Cardinals with the No. 5 overall pick.
Ridley will join fellow Southeastern Conference product Ryan Mallet, who the Patriots chose immediately after Ridley at No. 74. 
Sheppard is the third Tiger drafted by the Bills this decade. In 2002, Buffalo chose wide receiver Josh Reed in the second round and defensive tackle Kyle Williams in 2006 in the fifth round. Reed retired, but Williams is currently Buffalo’s starting defensive tackle.
Later in the round, Nevis was selected by Indianapolis with the 87th pick and Barksdale went to Oakland with the 92 pick.
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