Three Idaho Vandals - quarterback Nathan Enderle, safety Shiloh Keo and tight end Daniel Hardy, originally a walk-on - were all picked Saturday on the final day of the NFL draft.

Keo, from Everett, Wash., was the highest selection, going in the fifth round as the 144th overall selection to the Houston Texans. Enderle joined him as a fifth-round selection, 160th overall to the Chicago Bears and Hardy went in the seventh round as the 238th overall choice to the Tampa Bay Buccaneers.

Also, running back Taiwan Jones of Eastern Washington was picked by the Oakland Raiders in the fourth round, and Washington State center Zack Williams was drafted by the Carolina Panthers in the sixth round.

Boise State cornerback Brandyn Thompson went to the Washington Redskins in the seventh round.

Enderle, who was at home at North Platte, Neb., with his entire family, called it an "exciting day." He said he knew once the draft was under way who the most likely team would be to call his name and wasn’t surprised when the Bears were up and made him their choice.

Bears’ offensive coordinator Mike Martz’s influence was important in the decision to draft a quarterback. Martz had worked out Enderle and came away impressed with the 6-foot-4, 234-pounder.

Enderle said Martz left an impression at their pre-draft workout.

“It was awesome when he came out there,” Enderle said. “You can just tell he has so much football knowledge and really kind of started to tweak with my drop and a few things that I was doing physically just while he was out there. He seems like a really good coach and someone that I would love to work with.”

Texans general manager Rick Smith and coach Gary Kubiak both agreed on the player they’re most excited to see when training camp begins — Keo.

The Texans drafted the 5-foot-11, 219-pound Keo with the first of two fifth-round picks on Saturday. Defensive coordinator Wade Phillips was impressed when he coached Keo in the East-West Shrine game in January, and Smith and Kubiak got the same opinion when they studied him.

“I love this guy’s football IQ when I watch him play,” Kubiak said. “Great hands — if the ball’s close he’s going to make the play. He has the ability to take it back to the house, makes big hits in games that are difference-makers for football teams.”

“He’s one of those players you talk about as a diamond in the rough,” Smith said. “He doesn’t have great measurables. But what he has intangible-wise, and what he adds from a physical standpoint, he’s the type of guy that you look for in those rounds and we really feel like he can come in and really help our team.”

Hardy, who was injured midway through the season, was almost speechless.

“It’s so hard to explain,” he said. “It’s like 100 emotions hit you at once. I could barely breathe. I’m just so humbled, thankful and blessed by God.”

The three Vandals taken this year are the most since 1972, when Fred Riley, Andy Kupp and Ron Linehan were taken in a 17-round draft. The most Vandals picked in a year was 1958 when Jerry Kramer, Wayne Walker, Larry Aldrich, Wade Patterson and Alvin Johnson were selected.

Jones, who grew up in nearby Antioch, Calif., was extremely productive in two years at Eastern Washington and helped the Eagles win the FCS championship last season. He ran for 2,955 yards, averaged 7.7 yards per carry and scored 37 touchdowns overall. Jones was reportedly clocked between 4.27 and 4.35 seconds at his pro day.

While running back was not a position of need for the Raiders, the team could not pass up a game-breaker like Jones with the 125th overall pick. He had 21 offensive plays of at least 50 yards in his career, including five plays of at least 80 yards.

“He can make plays,” Jackson said. “The guy can score from anywhere on the field. He can catch it, he can run with it, he can play on special teams. This is another athlete who has unquestioned ability to put the ball in the end zone. And now he’s a Raider. There’s no question why he’s here. We know what he’s capable of doing, and we’re looking forward to him doing that.”

“I’ve got a lot to offer,” said Jones, who passed up his senior season at EWU. “I’ve got a lot of good agility. I’m good with my speed and how they want to use me is up to them. I just know I’ll come in and give them my all.”