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Keller picked by New York Jets in first round of NFL Draft.

Dustin Keller is Purdue's first offensive first-round pick since quarterback Jim Everett in 1986 and highest-ever drafted tight end.

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April 26, 2008

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WEST LAFAYETTE, Ind. - Purdue tight end Dustin Keller tonight was selected in the first round of the 2008 NFL Draft by the New York Jets. He was the 30th overall selection.

Combined with defensive end Anthony Spencer going in the first round (No. 26 overall) to the Dallas Cowboys last year, the Boilermakers have had opening-round selections in consecutive drafts for the first time since 1986 (quarterback Jim Everett, Houston Oilers) and 1987 (defensive back Rod Woodson, Pittsburgh Steelers).

Keller is Purdue's first offensive first-round pick since Everett and highest-ever drafted tight end. Keller is the 20th first-round selection in school history.

"When you consider that Dustin was the last player we signed in our 2003 recruiting class, and today he is a first-round NFL draft pick, you would have say he is one of our great success stories," Purdue head coach Joe Tiller said. "He is a gifted athlete who worked extremely hard to make himself a big-time pass catcher. We're obviously very excited for him and look forward to watching him with the Jets."

A hometown product from Lafayette, Ind., the 6-foot-3, 242-pound Keller ranks tied for 12th on Purdue's career receptions list with 142 (also Jim Beirne, 1965-67), 10th with 1,882 receiving yards and ninth with 16 receiving touchdowns. Among tight ends, Keller ranks third, second and second.

The Jets acquired the 30th pick from the Green Bay Packers in a trade for two later selections.

"He's everything you look for in a receiving tight end," ESPN draft analyst Mel Kiper said after Keller was picked. "Whoever the Jets quarterback is, he will fall in love with Dustin Keller."

As a senior, Keller was a semifinalist for the John Mackey Award (presented to the nation's outstanding tight end), second team All-Big Ten and team Most Valuable Player after catching 68 passes for 881 yards and seven touchdowns. His average of 5.23 receptions per game ranked fourth nationally among tight ends.

Keller was named the Outstanding Lineman of the Motor City Bowl after catching seven passes for a career-high 150 yards and a touchdown.

The last Boilermaker to be drafted by the Jets was defensive back Derrick Kelson in 1990 (11th round, No. 279 overall).

Keller's selection brings the total to 33 the number of Boilermakers drafted under head coach Joe Tiller. A school-record nine were picked in 2004 and five went in 2001.

To read Keller's NFLDraftScout.com bio, click here .

Purdue NFL First-Round Draft Picks

Johnny Drake, B, Cleveland Rams, 1937, 10
Cecil Isbell, B, Green Bay Packers, 1938, 7
Tom Bettis, G, Green Bay Packers, 1955, 5
Len Dawson, QB, Pittsburgh Steelers, 1957, 5
Don Brumm, DE, St. Louis Cardinals, 1963, 13
Jerry Shay, T, Minnesota Vikings, 1966, 7
Bob Griese, QB, Miami Dolphins, 1967, 4
John Charles, DB, Boston Patriots, 1967, 21
Leroy Keyes, RB, Philadelphia Eagles, 1969, 3
Mike Phipps, QB, Cleveland Browns, 1970, 3
Dave Butz, DT, St. Louis Cardinals, 1973, 5
Otis Armstrong, RB, Denver Broncos, 1973, 9
Darryl Singley, WR, New England Patriots, 1973, 19
Larry Burton, WR, New Orleans Saints, 1975, 7
Mike Pruitt, RB, Cleveland Browns, 1976, 7
Ken Novak, DT, Baltimore Colts, 1976, 20
Jim Everett, QB, Houston Oilers, 1986, 3
Rod Woodson, DB, Pittsburgh Steelers, 1987, 10
Anthony Spencer, DE, Dallas Cowboys, 2007, 26
Dustin Keller, TE, New York Jets, 2008, 30