Morstead goes to Saints in fifth round of NFL Draft

Nicole Jacobsen, Editor in Chief, njacobse@smu.edu

Issue date: 4/28/09 Section: News

Media Credit: Michael Danser

New Orleans Saints draft pick and former SMU kicker Thomas Morstead celebrates with his mother Sunday evening at Ozona Bar and Grill.

Thomas Morstead saw his special teams coach, Frank Gansz, just an hour after he was drafted by the New Orleans Saints on Sunday afternoon. Gansz was still in a coma, but Morstead said he still talked to him as if he was listening.

"It's crazy how it happened that way," said Morstead. "You can't tell me that's not a coincidence."

Before paying his final respects to his coach, a much happier scene unfolded in the Morstead's living room.

Nobody moved as Thomas Morstead answered his cell phone late Sunday evening. As NFL draft picks ticked away, apprehension built as SMU's former kicker and punter awaited his fate in the NFL.

"I was being kind of nonchalant over the phone, everything was dead quiet and when I pointed at the TV it said Eagles trade pick to Saints and my mom just lost it and started laughing and crying at the same time," said Morstead.

"I was probably more nervous, but he had no idea," said Isobel Morstead, Thomas' mother.

The New Orleans Saints drafted Morstead in the fifth round as the 164th overall draft pick late Sunday afternoon. With the Philadelphia Eagles on the clock, New Orleans traded picks with the New York Giants through Philadelphia to move up in the round to secure Morstead on their roster.

"Just to have this opportunity is awesome," said Morstead. "It's huge that they were trading picks to get me. It means they are serious about me and aren't just trying to have me come in and be a leg. They want me to be their guy next year."

Pat Morstead, Thomas' younger brother admitted to having no idea what the experience will be like watching his brother play in the NFL but did say, "It's his dream come true and if anybody deserves it, it's him."

Morstead was the first SMU draft pick since 2007 when defensive end Justin Rogers was picked up by the Patriots, but later traded to the Cowboys. Morstead's fifth round selection was the highest pick in Mustang history since the Saints drafted linebacker Chris Bordano as the 161st pick in 1998.

Morstead was the second punter drafted, going 22 picks after Kevin Huber who was drafted by the Cincinnati Bengals.

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