UND's Chris Kuper taken by Denver in fifth round of NFL draft Senior offensive lineman UND's first NFL draft pick since Jim Kleinsasser

April 30, 2006 For Immediate Release

GRAND FORKS, N.D.--University of North Dakota senior offensive lineman Chris Kuper has been selected by the Denver Broncos in the fifth round * 161st overall * of the National Football League draft this afternoon in New York.

Kuper, a native of Anchorage, Alaska, started every game in each of the last three seasons for the Fighting Sioux and collected a total of nine All-America honors at UND, including five in 2005. As a senior he was named a first team All-America by Associated Press Little All-America, D2Football.com and CollegeSportsReport.com and was named a second team All-American by Don Hansen's Football Gazette and Daktronics, Inc.

Kuper was also named the North Central Conference Most Valuable Offensive Lineman in each of his last two seasons at North Dakota and garnered two consecutive All-NCC First Team selections.

Kuper becomes the 24th Fighting Sioux player taken in the history of the NFL draft (attached) and the first since tight end Jim Kleinsasser was chosen by the Minnesota Vikings in the second round of the 1999 draft.

Please direct any Chris Kuper interview requests to UND football media relations director Jayson Hajdu at (701) 740-7659.


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