University of Richmond Athletics
Sidbury Goes To Atlanta Falcons In Fourth Round Of 2009 NFL Draft
April 26, 2009
NEW YORK - Richmond defensive end Lawrence Sidbury was drafted Sunday by the Atlanta Falcons, selected in the fourth round with the 125th overall selection. Sidbury is the third Spider drafted in two seasons and the second-consecutive Spider taken with pick No. 125.
Former Spiders - WR Arman Shields (fourth round, No. 125) and RB Tim Hightower (fifth round, No. 149) - were each taken in last year's draft by Oakland and Arizona, respectively, and represented Richmond's first draftees since 2000. Hightower was among the NFL's rookie leaders in touchdowns last season for the NFC Champion Cardinals.
Sidbury, who represents Richmond's 36th all-time draftee, is just the second Spider to be taken by Atlanta, joining DB Ray Easterling (ninth round, No, 223) in 1972. He will join Hightower, Shields and LB Paris Lenon, who are the Spiders currently on NFL rosters.
The 6-foot-2, 266-pound senior was the fourth player chosen by the Falcons this draft. The team used its first-round pick on DT Peria Jerry from the Mississippi and a second round pick on S William Moore from Missouri. San Jose CB Chris Owens was the team's third-round pick.
Sidbury was the catalyst of the defense that led the Spiders to the 2008 NCAA Division I Football Championship, finishing the season with 11.5 sacks, including a career-best four in the national championship game win over Montana. Anchored by the Cheltenham, Md. native, Richmond limited the Grizzlies to just 39 yards rushing and to its lowest point total in more than two seasons.
His 11.5 sacks in 2008 ranks third on the Spiders' single-season list, while his 20.5 career sacks ranks fourth all-time at Richmond. Sidbury was a 2008 CAA Football First Team selection, named the College Sporting News Playoff Most Valuable Player and was a Sports Network All-America pick.
Sidbury, who entered the 2008 season as the top-ranked senior defensive end at the FCS level, played in both the 84th East-West Shrine Game and the Under Armour Senior Bowl. The senior ran a 4.64 in the 40-yard dash at the NFL Combine in February, which was the fastest among the defensive linemen at the Combine.
As a team, the Spiders' defense finished second nationally in turnover margin (+24), sixth nationally in scoring defense (15.6 points/game), 10th nationally in total defense (268.8 yards/games) and 12th nationally in rushing defense (94.0 yards/game). Each of those stats led the CAA.
Richmond earned the school's first NCAA Championship in any sport on its way to a school-record 13-3 record. The Spiders won nine-consecutive games to end the season, which stands as the longest winning streak in the FCS entering 2009.
Former Spider LB Shawn Barber was also a fourth-round selection in 1998 when he was drafted by Washington with the 113th overall pick. He stands as the highest Richmond player drafted since RB Barry Redden went in the first round (14th overall) to the Los Angeles Rams in 1982.