April 22, 2001
University of Illinois offensive tackle Marques Sullivan and fullback Jameel Cook were selected in the fifth and sixth rounds, respectively, of the 2001 National Football League Amateur Draft, Sunday afternoon.
With the 144th pick in the fifth round, the Buffalo Bills selected Sullivan, who will join former Illini John Holecek and Henry Jones on the squad. Sullivan was a four-year starter for Illinois who earned Playboy preseason All-American honors last season. He was a two-time All-Big Ten second-team selection and led the offensive line with 71 knockdowns in 2000.
"I am very excited about heading to Buffalo," Sullivan said. "I think it will be a good opportunity for me and I hope to have a chance to play. I feel like I am prepared for the league because of the great experience of four years in Coach (Ron) Turner's system. It was unfortunate not to be drafted on Saturday, but I think I am in a good situation now."
Jameel Cook was the second Illini drafted as the 174th pick of the sixth round by the Tampa Bay Buccaneers. Cook switched to fullback midway through the 1999 season to give Illinois another offensive threat out of the backfield, catching six touchdown passes in his career. He totaled 60 catches for 506 career receiving yards and 526 yards rushing with the Illini.
"I couldn't be heading to a better situation than Tampa Bay," Cook said. "Coach Dungy told me earlier that it's just myself and Mike Alstott at fullback and the sky is the limit. I can't thank Coach Turner enough because the Buccaneers run a similar offensive system that we ran here. I can take what I learned from he and Coach (Jim) Helms and just go and get better. Plus I will be playing just three or four hours from home (Miami, Fla.)."
Following Sunday's draft, five Illinois football players signed free agent contracts with NFL teams. Defensive end Fred Wakefield signed on with the Arizona Cardinals, tight end Josh Whitman will head to the Buffalo Bills, cornerback Trayvon Waller inked with the New Orleans Saints, offensive guard Ray Redziniak will play for the New York Giants and long snapper Nathan Hodel signed on with the Carolina Panthers.
