By Myra Bean

For the third time in two years, a Panola County native has been drafted to the NFL.

John Jerry, Ole Miss offensive guard, was taken in the third round by the Miami Dolphins as the No. 73 pick overall.

Jerry watched the draft from the Atlanta home of big brother Peria Jerry, defensive lineman for the Atlanta Falcons, who was a first round draft pick last year.

Jerry is a 2005 graduate of South Panola High School and helped lead the Tigers to two state championships in 2003 and 2004.

Jerry joins an elite group of Panola Countians drafted into the NFL. Since 1996 when Dwayne Rudd was drafted by the Minnesota Vikings, he becomes the fifth player from South Panola to join the elite league

Miami is coached by Tony Sparano and sitting in the executive vice president of football operations chair is legendary coach Bill Parcells.

The www.miamidolphins.com website ran an expose’ on John Jerry, outlining the play of the 6’5”, 328-pounder. According to the website, Jerry will play guard for the Dolphins.

As a senior at Ole Miss, Jerry served as co-captain and had 92 knock-downs and had 99 as a junior.

“In his first conversation with the South Florida media via conference call he claimed he could be comfortable either at tackle or guard,” according to the website.

He got a good first impression of what life as a Miami Dolphin might be like at the Senior Bowl as a member of the South squad playing for Head Coach Tony Sparano and his staff.

“I think I definitely fit into the power running game,” Jerry said. “I think that just fits me perfect because that’s what I love to do is run the power and that’s what we do in Miami. I actually played defense in high school (like his brother) and when I got to Ole Miss they needed offensive linemen and the coach asked me was I willing to try. I was willing to try and I liked it so I decided to stick with it.”

The website said that Miami got a much closer look at Jerry in Mobile than any of the two other players they selected and drew the same conclusion about his strengths that Jerry did.

“The main thing that stands out with John Jerry is to see him move the people in front of him,” general manager Jeff Ireland said. “He’s a very powerful man. He really knows how to play with leverage and that’s kind of our bread and butter, is a big, powerful run-oriented guard that can move people off the line of scrimmage and that’s what we’re going to like about him for sure. Those are the things that really stand out.”

In addition to his older brother, Jerry told the website that he also sought out his former teammate on the offensive line, Baltimore Ravens left tackle Michael Oher, for some advice and insight into what he might face as he transitions to the next level.

“I talk to Big Mike and Big Mike told me to just keep my head on and go out and grind,” Jerry said. “And it’s a blessing to have a guy like (Peria) that can help you out and tell you to just come in and work hard and make the best out of everything and just go out and compete.”

Jerry admitted to www.miamidolphins.com that he came close to entering the draft last year with his brother but his head coach, Houston Nutt, convinced him to come back and he believed he could get better by returning as a senior. He talked a lot with Sparano and offensive line coach Dave DeGuglielmo at the Senior Bowl and at the Combine and was very excited to get the call.

Ireland indicated that Jerry would play more on the left side at guard, with free agent acquisition Richie Incognito being the front-runner at right guard.

His teammate Dexter McCluster went to the Kansas City Chiefs in the second round as the No. 36 pick overall. Other Ole Miss teammates also drafted include Kendrick Lewis, also to the Chiefs in the fifth round and Greg Hardy to the Carolina Panthers in the sixth round.