MOBILE, Ala. (April 22) -- Based on the recently completed National Football League Draft, Senior Bowl 2002 could best be described as the "Year of the Quarterback."

In addition to the 2002 draft's premier player and overall number one selection in quarterback David Carr of Fresno State, fans attending Senior Bowl 2002 also had the unique opportunity to see another first-round signal caller in Tulane's Patrick Ramsey, five of the first six quarterbacks selected in draft, and all six game quarterbacks being selected in the first five rounds.

Game officials also announced on Monday that, in addition to this outstanding quarterback success, a total of 93 members of the Senior Bowl 2002's North and South team rosters were selected in the entire seven-round draft.

"While we were obviously very pleased that so many of our players enjoyed tremendous success in this year's draft, we feel it is extremely significant to note the successes enjoyed by all six of this year's Senior Bowl quarterbacks," said Senior Bowl President Steve Hale. "It was an extremely talented group which included the first overall pick in Carr, another first-rounder in Ramsey, and early draftees Josh McCown, David Garrard, Rohan Davey and Kurt Kittner."

Other Senior Bowl 2002 NFL Draft highlights included three of the draft's first ten overall picks, ten first-rounders and the distinction that a Senior Bowler was the first player or first senior player selected in the draft at ten different positions.

In addition to Carr, who used at outstanding Senior Bowl Week to become the first selection of the NFL's newest team the Houston Texans, nine other 2002 Senior Bowlers were selected in the draft's prestigious first-round. That group includes defensive tackle Ryan Sims, whose stellar Senior Bowl Week performance helped enable him to become the first defensive tackle selected in the draft when he was chosen with the sixth pick overall by the Kansas City Chiefs.

Other first-round selections who took part in Senior Bowl Week 2002 include offensive lineman Levi Jones, chosen tenth overall by the Cincinnati Bengals; wide receiver Javon Walker of Florida State, selected by the Green Bay Packers; tight end Daniel Graham, chosen by the Super Bowl Champion New England Patriots; Auburn offensive lineman Kendall Simmons, chosen by the Pittsburgh Steelers; and quarterback Ramsey, selected by the Washington Redskins.

In addition to Sims, Senior Bowl 2002 defensive stars selected in round one include defensive ends Dwight Freeney of Syracuse, chosen by the Indianapolis Colts, and Bryan Thomas of UAB, chosen by the New York Jets; and linebacker Napoleon Harris, selected by the Oakland Raiders.

Round two featured 18 more Senior Bowl selections and round three saw 24 more Senior Bowl players selected giving the contest an impressive total of 52 players selected in the draft's first three rounds.

Other round-by-round totals included 15 Senior Bowlers in round four, 14 more in round five, four were chosen in round six and eight in round seven for the grand total of 93 Senior Bowlers chosen in the entire draft.

The overall quality of this year's roster was also demonstrated by the fact that the first player or first senior player selected at ten different positions played in the Senior Bowl. For example, Senior Bowl 2002 featured the first quarterback (Carr), defensive tackle (Sims), linebacker (Harris) and offensive guard (Simmons) chosen in the draft.

Senior Bowlers also made up the first center selected -- Andre Gurode by the Cowboys; the first kicker -- Jeff Chandler by the 49ers; and punter -- Dave Zastudil by the Ravens.

Senior Bowlers also accounted for the first senior running back selected in the draft in UCLA's DeShaun Foster by the Panthers; the first senior wide receiver in Florida State's Walker; and the first senior tight end in Colorado's Graham.

In addition to first-round quarterbacks Carr and Ramsey, McCown was a third-round pick of the Arizona Cardinals and Garrard and Davey both went in round four to give the contest five of the first six quarterbacks chosen in the draft.

The only member of that group missing from the contest was Oregon's Joey Harrington, chosen third overall by the Detroit Lions, who was scheduled to play in this year's Senior Bowl but was unable to participate due to an injury suffered in an all-star game the week prior to the Senior Bowl.

Each of the 32 National Football League teams drafted at least one Senior Bowl player, with the Washington Redskins and new head coach Steve Spurrier making the most Senior Bowl selections with seven. The expansion Houston Texans drafted six Senior Bowl players, while the New York Jets, Philadelphia Eagles and Chicago Bears each drafted five Senior Bowlers apiece.

The next showcase of future NFL stars is scheduled for Saturday, January 18, 2003, when the 54th annual Senior Bowl, presented by Food World, will be played in Mobile's Ladd-Peebles Stadium.

For ticket information, please call 251-432-4109.