The long wait for linebacker Emmanuel Acho and defensive tackle Kheeston Randall is finally over.
Acho was picked by the Cleveland Browns in the sixth round with the 204th overall selection, and Randall went to the Miami Dolphins 11 picks later in the seventh.
Acho, a 6-foot-1, 238-pound senior, projects as an inside linebacker in the Browns' 4-3 defense. He'll get a chance to back up middle linebacker D'Qwell Jackson, a six-year veteran who led the team in tackles last season.
The Dallas native earned All-Big 12 honors as senior after leading Texas with 131 total tackles (19 for loss). He recorded only three sacks, though, and ESPN NFL draft expert Mel Kiper Jr. said that hurt his stock in the draft.
"He's strong, quick and very experienced," Kiper said. "Think about what he did at Texas during his career -- he put up numbers. The only problem is, not a lot of impact plays. ... Too many games, I thought, where he wasn't dominant as his numbers and physical talent suggest he should've been."
Kiper said he felt Acho had the physical talent of a potential second- or third-round draft but lacked consistency on the field.
"He's a gifted athlete," Kiper said. "You thought he would be more dominant game-to-game. He wasn't."
The 6-foot-4, 293-pound Randall, a native of Beaumont, started 35 games at Texas. He was a second-team All-Big 12 selection after recording 34 tackles (five for loss) this season.
ESPN's Todd McShay said one glaring flaw was to blame for Randall slipping to the seventh round.
"When he gets a gap and has an opportunity, he can absolutely disrupt in the backfield, penetrate, make a lot of plays," McShay said. "But the thing is, he doesn’t make many plays in the passing game. He disappears. He only had four sacks in three years as a starter."
The selections of Acho, Randall and fourth-rounder Keenan Robinson may be all Texas has to show for the 2012 NFL Draft. Unless running back Fozzy Whittaker is drafted in the seventh round, this will be the fewest Longhorns selected in a draft since three went in 2005.
