Booker T. Washington Alumn Taken In First Round Of NFL Draft

Saturday, April 28th 2007, 9:19 pm

By: News On 6

The New Orleans Saints' prolific passing game has another young threat. With the draft's 27th pick, the Saints took Robert Meachem, a receiver who once starred at Booker T. Washington High School.

Meachem spurned numerous suitors, including OU, to sign with Tennessee, and he set the Volunteers' single-season receiving yardage record last season with 1,298 yards and scored 11 touchdowns.

Like OUâ€™s Adrian Peterson, who was drafted by the Minnesota Vikings in the first round, Meachem left college after his junior season.

The Saints hope Meachem will help quarterback Drew Brees repeat his league-leading passing totals of 2006.

Meachem will join a receiving corps that lost veteran Joe Horn, who asked to be waived during an off-season salary dispute and signed as a free agent with NFC South Division rival Atlanta.

Meachem is a former standout at Booker T. Washington High School. He confidently asserted that he would pick up where Horn left off, quote, "in every area," then wavered when asked if that included Horn's flamboyant, outspoken style.

While chuckling, Meachem replied that, quote, "I'm going to do my best."