As Texas’ Sergio Kindle dropped to the second round of the NFL draft, his incentive only increased.

A sprained left knee was among the concerns that knocked Kindle out of the first round. Baltimore took the defensive end/linebacker with the 43rd pick, one of four Texas players taken in the second day .

Defensive tackle Lamarr Houston went 44th to Oakland. Receiver Jordan Shipley went 84th to Cincinnati and Cleveland took quarterback Colt McCoy at No. 85.

“It was real hard seeing a lot of guys, in my opinion, that I was better than go ahead of me,” Kindle said on a conference call.

The former Woodrow Wilson standout disputed reports that microfracture surgery may be required on the knee, injured during his Pro Day workouts.

“I’m getting Rookie of the Year,” he said. “That’s my goal.”

Kindle called a preseason incident where he drove into an apartment while texting “a dumb decision” and said Ravens officials made him diagram the accident during an interview.

Texas wasn’t the only team with players in demand.

SMU receiver Emmanuel Sanders went to Pittsburgh with the 18th pick in the third round, the highest selection for a Mustang since 1987 and another sign of the program’s rise. He could be a replacement for the traded Santonio Holmes.

“My playing style is I am a very elusive player,” said Sanders, who ran a 4.41 in the 40 at the Combine. “Some receivers fit in a category of more quick than fast, but I feel like I bring both of those to the table …”

In the Run and Shoot, Sanders caught 98 passes for 1,339 yards and seven touchdowns while operating from the slot.

TCU’s Daryl Washington, a former Irving High School standout, made the most of his one season as a starter, going 47th to Arizona.

He led the Horned Frogs in tackles and was especially effective in the Tostitos Fiesta Bowl against Boise State. Arizona moved up 11 spots to draft Washington as the replacement for inside linebacker Karlos Dansby, who signed with Miami as a free agent.

“We definitely have some similarities in how we play,” Washington said. “Obviously he’s much bigger than I am, but as far as athleticism and IQ for the game of football and passion for the game, I think I’ll just come in and fit right in and make some noise.”

One concern about Washington was his size (6-2, 230). Washington said he hopes to report at about 235 pounds. Baylor center J.D. Walton, an Allen product who went to Denver as the 80th pick, becomes the second Bears’ offensive lineman taken in as many years. Jason Smith was the second overall pick last season.Area selections

Players from the Big 12 South, Texas colleges and north Texas area high schools who were taken Friday in the second and third rounds of the NFL Draft:

Pick  Player  College  Pos.  NFL team

No. 43  Sergio Kindle  Texas  LB/DE  Baltimore

No. 44  Lamarr Houston  Texas  DT  Oakland

No. 47  Daryl Washington  TCU  LB  Arizona

No. 80  J.D. Walton  Baylor  C  Denver

No. 82  Emmanuel Sanders  SMU  WR  Pittsburgh

No. 84  Jordan Shipley  Texas  WR  Cincinnati

No. 85  Colt McCoy  Texas  QB  Cleveland

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