April 16, 2000
Release: Upon Receipt

SECOND FURMAN STANDOUT TAKEN IN NFL DRAFT;
KITCHINGS SELECTED BY KANSAS CITY CHIEFS IN SEVENTH ROUND

GREENVILLE -- Furman University senior wide receiver Desmond Kitchings became the second Paladin to be picked in the 2000 NFL Draft when he was selected by the Kansas City Chiefs in the seventh round late Sunday afternoon.

Kitchings¹ selection followed Paladin safety John Keith, who was picked in the fourth round by the San Francisco 49ers. Kitchings and Keith are the first two Furman players drafted in the same season since 1984 when Stanford Jennings and Ernest Gibson were selected by the Cincinnati Bengals and New England Patriots, respectively, in the third and fourth rounds. Jennings spent nine years in the NFL and Gibson played professionally for five years.

³I¹m excited. This means a lot,² said Kitchings Sunday afternoon. ³I was hoping to go earlier, but I can¹t complain. They (Kansas City) seem real happy to have me, and I¹m glad to be going there.²

The second pick in the seventh round and 208th selection overall, Kitchings caught a team leading 48 passes for 911 yards and five touchdowns in 1999 and also averaged a Southern Conference leading 35.1 yards on 15 kickoff returns, three of which he returned for touchdowns. A consensus all-conference selection as a receiver and as a return specialist, he earned Associated Press All-America honors as a return specialist after helping Furman to a 9-3 record, league championship, and invitation to the NCAA I-AA playoffs.

The 5-foot-10, 177-pound Wagener, S.C., product finished his career with 118 receptions for 1,961 yards and 12 touchdowns.

³It was already a great day for Furman football with John being drafted, but now with Des going, I know everyone associated with our football program is elated,² said Paladin head coach Bobby Johnson. ³Des ran a 4.33 40-yard dash in shorts in front of a half dozen scouts a few weeks ago, and I think that really got their attention. He¹s a fine receiver and return man, and I think that combination, plus his speed, was a big factor in his being drafted. He¹s very deserving of this chance.²

Furman currently has two former players in the NFL ‹ tight end Luther Broughton of the Philadelphia Eagles and linebacker Orlando Ruff of the San Diego Chargers.