Broncos

By Pat Graham, AP Sports Writer
DENVER (AP) ― The Denver Broncos picked up a center and a cornerback with their two fourth-round selections in the NFL Draft on Sunday, both from the Mid-American Conference.

Denver got Bowling Green center Kory Lichtensteiger with the 108th overall selection and Kent State cornerback Jack Williams with the 119th.

The Broncos then selected Arizona State running back Ryan Torain and Virginia Tech defensive tackle Carlton Powell Jr. in the fifth round, and Arizona linebacker Spencer Larsen in the sixth. The team finished off the draft by taking Arizona State safety Josh Barrett, followed by Arkansas fullback Peyton Hillis, in the seventh and final round.

The 6-foot-3, 310-pound Lichtensteiger becomes the fourth center on the Broncos' roster, joining Ben Hamilton, Tom Nalen and Casey Wiegmann. The team had utility lineman Chris Myers but traded him to Houston in March for a sixth-round pick.

Lichtensteiger made 3,243 offensive snaps in his career at Bowling Green, allowing only one quarterback pressure.

He thinks the Broncos' zone-blocking scheme is the perfect fit for him.

"It's definitely a dream come true, because that's one of the teams I was hoping for big time," said Lichtensteiger, who was penalized just four times in his career.

Lichtensteiger is two months removed from shoulder surgery, but said it's feeling better.

"I'm going to work my butt off for them," he said.

The 5-9, 181-pound Williams had three interceptions and eight pass breakups in 2007. He also played hurt most of the year due to a shoulder injury, which might have scared off teams.

"I think what saved me was how well I played my junior year," said Williams, who tied for the lead in the nation with five forced fumbles in 2006.

Torain is the first running back taken by the Broncos since the Maurice Clarett debacle in 2005.

The Broncos drafted Clarett in the third round in 2005, but he was hurt in training camp and then cut without playing a down, in part because he isolated himself from other players. He's now in prison for a 2006 conviction on robbery and weapons charges.

Torain rushed for 553 yards and five touchdowns his senior season at Arizona State before suffering a torn ligament in his foot that required surgery.

He joins an already crowded backfield with Travis Henry, Selvin Young, Mike Bell and Andre Hall.

"They're a great running team, a great place to play," Torain said. "I can't wait."

He said his foot has completely healed. He didn't want to speculate on where he would've landed in the draft had he not suffered the injury.

"I was ranked at the top at the beginning of the year," he said. "But once I got hurt and was done for the season, it all fell apart. I just had to pick all the pieces up and rebuild."

Powell had 3 1/2 sacks last season for the Hokies.

Larsen played middle and outside linebacker while at Arizona but could possibly slide over to fullback for the Broncos. He had nine sacks in his Wildcats career.

Larsen also missed two seasons as he served a mission in Chile for the LDS church.

Denver picked up a much-needed left tackle in Ryan Clady with the 12th pick Saturday, and then added special teams standout Eddie Royal in the second round.

Stay Up To Date On The Denver Broncos



• Email: Sign up for the CBS4 Broncos Insiders E-mail Update and you'll get the latest Broncos news in your inbox when it happens.
• Free Wireless Text Alerts: Stay informed with CBS4 Broncos Insiders text alerts. Your carrier's standard text messaging rates apply. (available to all major wireless carrier subscribers) To sign up, text 4broncos to 66247.

(© 2009 The Associated Press. All Rights Reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.)

Curious & Controversial News

• Woman Passes Driver's Test On 950th Try
• White Squirrel Sighting Confirmed
• Van Stolen 35 Years Ago Found In L.A.
• Got A Crying Kid? Stick'em In A Bucket
• Man Shows Up At Own Funeral
• Elephant Nearly Becomes Roadkill
• Town Requires License For Cat Ownership
• Slideshow: Colorado's Weirdest House
• Slideshow: Colorado's Weirdest Festival
• Slideshow: Colorado's Weirdest Crime