The results are in!! The Cleveland Browns chose Kamerion as the 13th overall pick in the first round of the 2006 NFL draft!!!

W H O O H O O ! ! !

I found this great article online after the draft announcements came in and wanted to share:

Wichitan drafted in 1st round
BY JEFFREY PARSON
The Wichita Eagle

Travis Heying/The Wichita Eagle

Kamerion Wimbley weeps after finishing a phone call where he learned he was about to be drafted in the 2006 NFL Draft.

NFL Draft coverage

Kamerion Wimbley thought the tears were over.

The former Wichita Northwest football standout had been crying moments earlier, near the end of a cell-phone call. The Cleveland Browns had informed him that he was about to be their first-round selection in Saturday’s NFL Draft.

Only two other Wichitans had ever been first-round NFL picks.

The resulting tears were racing down Wimbley’s nose at such a rate, his free hand could not keep up wiping them away.

But Wimbley had composed himself before taking his seat at a party in northeast Wichita. He was prepared for the excitement of hearing his name called as the 13th overall selection and shared in the wide smiles when it happened.

Then Wimbley hugged his grandmother, Frances Wimbley — a long, tight embrace that spoke volumes.

And the tears came back with a vengeance.

“I enjoyed every second of that hug,” Frances said.

…

Wimbley said Saturday unfolded even better than he had envisioned. He originally wanted to watch the draft by himself but instead joined about 150 friends and family members in a rented reception hall.

Over food and drinks, those friends and relatives swapped stories of Wimbley’s youth and his career, back to his youth football days.

“I’m happy to see everybody out here, a lot of friends and family, a lot of support,” Wimbley said. “A lot of these people have been with me throughout my journey. They gave me support when I needed it the most. This is just a great day for me and my family.”

Wearing a polo shirt with Florida State colors and new Sean John jeans, Wimbley made his way around the room like a groom at a wedding reception. He went table to table, smiling and making people smile.

At about 12:30, Wimbley was on the far side of the room holding 1-week-old Demarion Johnson. He appeared a little unsure of how to deal with a baby smaller than a football, drawing giggles from Vanessa Mitchell — Demarion’s mother and Wimbley’s cousin — as well as the other women at the table.

Seconds later, Wimbley was sitting in a chair across the room, hunched over with that phone pressed to his ear. His agent, Joe Linta, had called him earlier to address rumors that the Browns — projected for weeks as Wimbley’s potential destination — were looking to trade their pick and target another player.

Browns general manager Phil Savage called Wimbley and talked him through the process, explaining that the team was trading down from the 12th selection to No. 13 but still planned on taking Wimbley. Cleveland owner Randy Lerner and coach Romeo Crennel also spoke to Wimbley before the selection was made public.

“Hearing them tell me what was about to happen, it was phenomenal,” Wimbley said. “I can’t explain it. I get numb thinking about it.”

Wimbley informed his high school coach, Jim Moore, of the good news before heading back to his seat. He then told his father, Oliver Wimbley, what was about to happen, though the two held their celebration to a firm handshake at the point.

“We were trying to keep it a secret until it was announced,” Oliver said.

Oliver then picked through a box of new hats provided by Reebok. The hats of other potential destinations — the Jets, Chiefs, Broncos, Patriots and Dolphins — stayed in the box.

Minutes later, Oliver handed Kamerion a Browns hat, which he tugged on as the room exploded.

“I’ve been a Steelers fan my whole life, but I’m a Cleveland fan now,” said Oliver, who wore brown clothes on purpose. “To play in the NFL is so great. That he could be drafted this high, it’s just amazing.”

The Browns apparently had little doubt about Wimbley.

“Kamerion Wimbley is a player we have been sitting on for, quite frankly, two months,” Savage told reporters in Cleveland minutes after the selection. “We felt like pass rush was a huge issue for us, and Kamerion was our guy way back two months ago. I think this is just a perfect situation.”

Crennel said Wimbley’s work at Florida State’s pro day — at which scouts test out potential prospects — was so fluid and natural, he was convinced Wimbley could become an NFL star at outside linebacker.

Savage also made sure to point out to reporters that Wimbley was an “absolute A-class person” — a point also made on the ESPN telecast by draft analyst Mel Kiper Jr.

But no one at Wimbley’s draft party Saturday needed to be convinced of that. After Wimbley had hugged nearly everyone in the room and signed scores of autographs, his grandmother, Nancy Reed, called him to the front.

She told everyone that Wimbley’s strong faith in God had led to this moment, and she wrapped her arm around Wimbley as she sang, “His eyes are on the sparrow.”

When everyone called for a speech, Wimbley managed little more than “I want to thank God first and foremost” and “Let’s cut the cake.”

The day he had been anticipating for so long turned into a dream scenario. He joined Mike Bell (1979) and Barry Sanders (1989) as the only Wichitans to be first-round NFL picks.

“Anytime you’re mentioned in the same sentence with Barry Sanders, it’s tremendous,” Wimbley said. “To be one of the few who have done that, it’s a great accomplishment. To come out of Kansas, it shows that it’s possible. That means a lot to me.”

Congratulations Kamerion! We’re all so happy for you!