For the first time in more than half a century, three NFL teams drafted LSU players in the first round of the draft.

JaMarcus Russell went first overall to the Oakland Raiders on Saturday, while LaRon Landry was taken sixth by the Washington Redskins and Dwayne Bowe 23rd by the Kansas City Chiefs.

Associated Press

In 1951, the last time three LSU players were taken in the first round, it was another LSU quarterback topping the list when Y.A. Tittle was taken third overall by San Francisco.

Russell, who was 25-4 as an LSU starter, could get playing time as a rookie in Oakland, where the battle will by wide open in training camp for the starting job.

Oakland has cut last year's starter, Aaron Brooks. The quarterbacks remaining on its roster are Andrew Walter and newly signed former LSU quarterback Josh Booty.

Leaving school as a junior, Russell ranks third all-time at LSU in career completions with 493 and career passing yards with 6,625. He ranks second in career touchdown passes with 52.

Landry, who started 10 games as a freshman during LSU's 2003 BCS national championship campaign, was rated as the best safety in the draft. Many expected him to go to the NFL in 2006, but he decided to return to the Tigers for his senior season.

"No regrets," said Landry, who watched the draft with friends and family in a hotel conference room in Kenner. "I just wanted to come back for my senior year because I had a lot of goals and things I wanted to accomplish. Some I didn't reach, like playing for another national championship, but as far as being one of the elite guys in draft, I did that, so I think the hard work really paid off."

During his career, he was credited with 315 career tackles, 12 interceptions and eight sacks. He is tied for third all-time at LSU for interceptions and seventh in tackles.

He also had 40 passes defended in his career, which ranks second behind his former teammate and current Giants cornerback Corey Webster, who had 49.

His brother, Dawan Landry, also plays safety in the NFL for Baltimore, meaning the brothers who played for Hahnville High School will be in neighboring NFL cities.

"I'm sure we'll spend a lot of time together," the younger Landry said.

Landry said he hasn't been assured that he'll enter training camp as a first-team defensive back in Washington, but he expects to contribute on the field in his rookie season.

"I just want to go in there, learn the play book and do anything to help my team," Landry said. "I just want to win."

Landry said most projections he'd seen had him going between No. 5 and No. 10. He was pleased to have gone sixth and to a team where he'll play alongside safety Sean Taylor.

Bowe was the third receiver taken in the draft, after Calvin Johnson of Georgia Tech was taken second by Detroit and Ted Ginn Jr. of Ohio State went to the Miami Dolphins at No. 9.

Bowe's career total of 26 touchdown catches made him LSU's all-time leader in that category. Last season, he caught 65 passes for 990 yards and 12 touchdowns. He finished with 23 TD catches from Russell, giving the tandem the most touchdown connections between two players in school history.

(Copyright 2007 by The Associated Press. All Rights Reserved.)