Marshall University Athletics
Goddard Drafted by the Detroit Lions
4/24/2005 12:00:00 AM | Football
Goddard Drafted by the Detroit Lions
4/24/2005
For the sixth consecutive year a Marshall University football player has been selected in the National Football League Draft. Thundering Herd standout defensive end Johnathan Goddard is the latest in that line.
Goddard was selected by the Detroit Lions in the sixth round of the 2005 NFL Draft on Sunday. He was the 206th overall pick in the draft.
The Jacksonville, Fla. native estabished himself as one of college football's premier defensive players in 2004. He led the nation with 16 sacks and 28? stops behind the line of scrimmage. The Football Writers Association's All-America first-team pick also made 82 tackles (44 solos) with three pressures, three fumble recoveries, five forced fumbles, an interception and five pass breakups. He earned Mid-American Conference Defensive Player of the Year honors and was a finalist for the Bronko Nagurski Award.
His 28? stops behind the line of scrimmage set a school season record and ranks fourth in NCAA Division 1-A history, topped only by Kenny Philpot of Eastern Michigan (30? in 2001), Terrell Suggs of Arizona State (31? in 2002) and Jason Babin of Western Michigan (32 in 2003). Only William King (29 in 1993) had more tackles for loss in a season for the Thundering Herd (Marshall played Division 1-AA football in 1993).
In 49 career games, Goddard started 32 times for the Thundering Herd. He recorded 239 tackles (135 solos) with 27? sacks for minus-179 yards, 65? stops for losses of 276 yards, 32 quarterback pressures, six fumble recoveries, 10 forced fumbles, an interception, 18 pass deflections and a blocked kick. Only Jason Babin of Western Michigan (75, 2000-03) had more stops behind the line of scrimmage in a career among NCAA Division 1-A players.
Goddard is the 13th Marshall player to be drafted since 1998 and the 34th overall.
