The first Michigan State football player was just selected in the 2011 NFL Draft. The New York Giants used the 185th overall selection on former MSU linebacker Greg Jones. This was pick No. 20 in the sixth round.
I'm personally surprised Jones lasted this long. Todd McShay's mock draft didn't have Jones being picked until the sixth round, so some experts anticipated this slide. Even so, a few months ago many thought Jones could be a late first-round pick or a second- or third-round pick at worst. What ended up happening was Jones had to wait until the sixth round to hear his name called.
Jones will join former MSU wide receiver Devin Thomas in New York with the Giants. Thomas played at MSU a few years ago and was originally drafted by the Redskins. He was released last season and claimed by the Panthers, but he didn't last long in Carolina and eventually joined the Giants.
SB Nation has full coverage of the 2011 NFL Draft at its NFL Draft hub and NFL Draft blog, Mocking The Draft. For more on the Detroit Lions, make sure to check out Pride Of Detroit and SB Nation Detroit's NFL Draft StoryStream.