Midwest Memories: Detroit Lions' 1995 Draft Class

In a new series, the Waterboy chronicles a different piece of Midwestern lore each week. Even though they may be gone, these moments of the Midwest should not be forgotten. Have an idea for a topic? Send it to the Waterboy!

Any fan of the Black and Blue Division may scratch their head at the idea of a decent draft class coming to the D. And with recent (and not so recent) draftees not quite panning out (read: embarrassing the name of football) during their time in Motown, it is legitimate to question any sort of time devoted to a story not about the Lions and their talent to take players woefully lacking any of their own.

But, back in the days before Charles Rodgers, Mike Williams, Stockar McDougal or any other Matt Millen mistake, there were some Drafts to admire. Specifically, the draft in 1995 should go down as possibly the greatest by any Detroit organization ever, and is arguably better than any other NFC North's selection in the decade.

That's bold talk for the boys in Honolulu Blue--time to back it up. The Lions had eight selections in the draft, none coming in either the second or fourth rounds, and still managed to grab four of the most revered and talented Detroiters in team history. Here's the break down:

ROUND 1: Luther Ellis, DE, Utah
The pass-rushing guru played nine seasons in the D, recording 324 total tackles and 27 sacks. He earned Pro Bowl bids after the 1999 and 2000 campaigns.

ROUND 3: David Sloan, TE, New Mexico

At 6'6", 260 lbs, this bruiser provided a boost in both the run and passing games. He spent seven years in Detroit, catching 180 passes for 2,024 yards and 15 touchdowns. Sloan got the Pro Bowl nod after the 1999 season, when he had 47 catches for 591 yards and four scores.

ROUND 5: Stephan Boyd, LB, Boston College

This maniac in the middle decimated runningbacks for his entire seven year career with the Lions. He made back to back trips to the Pro Bowl in 1999 and 2000, after recording 128 and 139 tackles in those years, respectively. In a career shortened by injury he managed 576 tackles and 6.5 sacks.

ROUND 5: Kez McCorvey, WR, Florida State

Perhaps the first but certainly not the last of Detroit's poor decisions at wide receiver, McCorvey recorded only two catches in three seasons with the team. This was a team with Barry Sanders, mind you.

ROUND 5: Ronald Cherry, T, McNeese State
Never played a down in the D. Makes McDougal and Cherilus look pretty decent.

ROUND 6: Kevin Hickman, TE, Navy
A blocking tight end, he played in 13 games over three seasons with the team.

ROUND 6: Cory Schlesinger, FB, Nebraska

The most underrated player in the NFL during his career. While his stats may not blow you away (475 yards and five touchdowns on the ground, 197 catches for 1445 and nine scores through the air) his insanity as a blocker certainly left middle linebackers crawling off the field for 12 seasons. He was a Pro Bowl alternate from 2003 to 2005, and may be remembered most fondly for his ability to shatter facemasks. It is reported he broke over 200 during his career, including 20 during the 2003 season, when he played in only 13 games.

Last I heard he was a teacher at Allen Park High School. Think any one has ever talked-back in that class? Could you imagine what would happen if a kid shot a spit wad at him? Gives me shivers...

ROUND 7: Hessley Hempstead, G, Kansas
This draft may also be in the running for strangest names for Lions players; Hempstead played in 32 games over three years for Detroit, earning one start.

I challenge you to find a better draft class for the Lions: Eight Pro Bowls and more popularity than any of the current Lions put together. Now if only they had taken Terrell Davis (who went four picks after Schlesinger) instead of McCorvey, Cherry or Hickman, the Lions may have done even better than the 10-6 record they managed in 1995.