Jaguars Draft Former P.C. North Running Back Deji Karim

Originally Published: Apr 24, 2010 7:44 PM CDT

Corey DeMoss
Oklahoma Sports Staff Writer

NEW YORK CITY – Putnam City North product Deji Karim, who played running back when Sam Bradford led the Panthers’ offense, was drafted in the sixth round of the NFL Draft by the Jacksonville Jaguars Saturday.

Karim started at Northeastern Oklahoma A&M, but transferred to Southern Illinois after his sophomore season. After missing the entire 2008 season with a knee injury, he exploded on the scene last year.

Karim led the entire Football Championship Subdivision (formerly Division I-AA) with 1,694 rushing yards and broke a Southern Illinois record with 2,339 all-purpose yards.

He stands at just 5-foot-9 and has durability concerns after his knee injury, but the Jaguars still made him the No. 180 overall pick. He joins a roster that already includes electric Maurice Jones-Drew, Rashad Jennings and former OU starter Allen Patrick.