By DENNIS WASZAK Jr. – 7 hours ago
HEMPSTEAD, N.Y. (AP) — Vernon Gholston heard the crowd chanting his name while the New York Jets were on the clock, deliberating over their first-round draft selection.
A few minutes later, the notoriously critical Jets fans welcomed the Ohio State defensive end to their team with satisfied cheers.
“It was crazy,” Gholston said with a smile Saturday night at the Jets’ headquarters, a few hours after being selected with the No. 6 overall pick. “When they got to the sixth pick and I was still on the board, they started chanting my name and everything. I guess they anticipated it.”
And, the Jets hope Gholston will further improve their pass rush in a big way. The speedy and powerful defensive end is expected to play outside linebacker in New York’s 3-4 defense, which registered just 29 sacks last season.
The 6-foot-4, 264-pound Gholston set an Ohio State record with 14 sacks last season despite facing double teams regularly. In the 3-4, he’ll be asked to stand up as a linebacker more after playing mostly from a three-point stance in college.
“That’s something I’ve done at Ohio State,” said Gholston, wearing a gray, pinstriped suit and a green and white Jets cap. “I’m pretty sure I won’t have problems with it.”
The Jets added another first-round selection when they traded their second-round pick and a fourth-rounder (No. 113) to Green Bay for the No. 30 pick. The fans who cheered a few hours earlier for Gholston at Radio City Music Hall booed loudly when New York took Purdue tight end Dustin Keller, thinking the Jets might take a wide receiver or quarterback.
“I think it’s going to be a really good fit,” Keller said during a conference call from a suite in the press box at Purdue’s Ross-Ade Stadium.

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