CEDAR FALLS - Chad Rinehart became the fourth University of Northern Iowa football player to be drafted as high as the third round when the Washington Redskins selected the offensive lineman with the 96th overall pick during day two of the NFL draft Sunday.

Later in the day, offensive tackle Brandon Keith was drafted by the Arizona Cardinals in the seventh round, marking the first time since 1976 UNI had two players chosen in the same draft.

Both Panthers will be joined by former UNI players when on their new teams.

Rinehart, who is from Boone, will team up with punter Derrick Frost in Washington, while Keith, who is from McAlester, Okla., will meet up with quarterback Kurt Warner in Arizona.

Sunday also marked the first time since 2002 that UNI has had a player chosen in the draft. Tight end Ryan Hannam of St. Ansgar went in the fifth round of the 2002 draft to the Seattle Seahawks.

Meanwhile, three University of Iowa players and a pair of Iowa State standouts were also drafted Sunday.

Iowa cornerback Charles Godfrey went first, taken by the Carolina Panthers in the third round. A second-team All-Big Ten selection who led the Hawkeyes with five interceptions last season, Godfrey was chosen with the 67th overall.

Hawkeye defensive end Kenny Iwebema was taken in the fourth round by Arizona, the 116th pick overall, and Iowa linebacker Mike Humpal of New Hampton was drafted by the Pittsburgh Steelers with the 188th overall pick.

Iowa State linebacker Alvin Bowen was chosen in the fifth round by Buffalo, the 147th pick overall, and nose tackle Ahtyba Rubin was drafted by Cleveland in the sixth round with the 190th overall pick.

Panthers in draft

Year Player, pos. Team Rnd Pick

1966 Randy Schultz, RB Cleveland 5th -

1976 Bill Salmon, QB Minnesota 10th -

1976 Mike Timmermans, OL Green Bay 17th -

1982 Steve Sandon, QB New England 11th -

1990 Bryce Paup, LB Green Bay 6th 159

1991 James Jones, DL Cleveland 3rd 57

1993 Kenny Shedd, WR N.Y. Jets 5th 129

1997 Dedric Ward, WR N.Y. Jets 3rd 88

1999 Ty Talton, DB Detroit 5th 137

2000 Brad Meester, OL Jacksonville 2nd 60

2001 Eddie Berlin, WR Tennessee 5th 159

2002 Ryan Hannam, TE Seattle 5th 169

2008 Chad Rinehart, OL Washington 3rd 96

2008 Brandon Keith, OL Arizona 7th 225