University of Houston Athletics
Milligan Nabbed In Sixth Round By Chargers
4/27/2003 12:00:00 AM | Football
April 27, 2003
HOUSTON, Texas - For the first time in three seasons a former University of Houston football standout received a call from the National Football League on Draft Day, as safety Hanik Milligan (N. Fort Lauderdale, Fla.) was selected by the San Diego Chargers in the sixth round with the 188th pick.
Milligan is the first Cougars to be picked in the annual NFL Draft since 2000, when former running back Mike Green, now with the Cincinnati Bengals, was chosen by the Tennessee Titans in the seventh and final round.
A three-year starter for Houston, Milligan rounded out his stellar career in the Red and White last fall, grabbing Conference USA First-Team honors after racking up 145 tackles, seven pass break-ups, five forced fumbles and two fumble recoveries to lead Cougar defenders. During the 2002 campaign Milligan was on both the Jim Thorpe Award and Bronko Nagurski Trophy Watch Lists.
After playing one season at Iowa Central Community College, Milligan joined the Cougars in 2000 and was immediately thrust into the starting lineup. In 2001 Milligan led the nation in tackles when he racked up an amazing 174 stops, including 102 unassisted. At one point over two seasons, Milligan registered 21 straight games with at least 10 tackles a game, including 22 against TCU in 2001 and 20 a piece versus Rice and Army that same season.
Milligan concluded his career with 405 total tackles, 20 pass breakups and nine forced fumbles. The tackle total is third-best all-time in school history, while the 20 PBUs ranks him tied for 10th.
Milligan becomes the fourth Cougar in the history of the school to be drafted by the Chargers. Running back Dick Post was the first, as San Diego made him a fourth-round pick in 1967 when the Chargers were still member of the American Football League (AFL). Two years later in 1969 in what would be the final AFL Draft, defensive back Mike Simpson was taken in the 13th round. In 1975 linebacker Larry Keller was a ninth-round selection.
If Milligan makes the Chargers' opening-day roster, he will become only the third former Cougar to suit up for the Lightning Bolts. Post played four years for the Chargers, and three decades later, safety Gerome Williams suited up for San Diego for the 1998 campaign.
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