4/26/2009 8:30:44 PM | Football
Syracuse guard Ryan Durand became the second Orange player to be selected in the 2009 National Football League Draft when the Tennessee Titans called his name in the seventh round. Fullback Tony Fiammetta was chosen by the Carolina Panthers in the fourth round. Durand, who played for the East squad at the 2009 East-West Shrine Game, joins former Orange standout Keith Bulluck on the Titans roster. He is the fifth person from Syracuse to play for the Titans, who chose him with the 239th selection in the Draft.
A three-year starter, Durand earned 2008 ECAC All-Star honors. He is a two-time ESPN the Magazine/CoSIDA Academic All-America Second Team selection (2007 and 2008), a four-time BIG EAST All-Academic Team selection and was a semifinalist for the National Football Foundation 2008 Draddy Trophy. In 2008, Durand and the Orange offensive line blocked for record-setting running back Curtis Brinkley, who gained 1,164 yards, which ranks fifth on Syracuse's single-season record list and had a school-record five-consecutive 100-yard rushing games.
The four-year letterwinner regularly participated in the 'Cuse Cares Community Program, working with children, at risk youth and the elderly. A health and exercise science major, Durand furthered his educational experience as a physical therapy intern at Crouse Hospital and as an intern for an orthopedic doctor in 2007.
