FAYETTEVILLE - Earlier this week former Arkansas defensive lineman Marcus Harrison admitted a preference for Chicago in regard to the NFL Draft.

"The Bears are my favorite team," Harrison said. "I like how their defense is played."

The Bears like Harrison, too, as they showed in making him a third-round pick with the 90 th overall selection.

Three other former Razorbacks were drafted in the seventh round on Sunday: offensive tackle Nate Garner, by the New York Jets at No. 211; fullback Peyton Hillis by the Denver Broncos at No. 227; and wide receiver Marcus Monk by the Bears at No. 248.

Harrison, from Mills, played defensive tackle and end at Arkansas. He was the first defensive player drafted by the Bears this year.

ADVERTISEMENT

"Talentwise, we are very excited about this young man as a football player," Chicago defensive coordinator Bob Babich said of Harrison. "He is a big, strong, athletic defensive lineman.

" We feel very comfortable with him fitting in our system. I think that he is athletic enough to play the three technique, but at the same time, he's big enough and strong enough to play nose if we need to move him into that position.

" So anytime we can gain depth through talent on the defensive line, we are comfortable doing that."

Harrison has been referred to as a first-round talent who fell in the draft because of his arrest last August for felony possession of one Ecstasy tablet and misdemeanor possession of marijuana.

Harrison, who was suspended for one game by then-Arkansas Coach Houston Nutt, is taking part in a ninth-month court-controlled program that includes classes, Alcoholics Anonymous meetings and drug testing. If he completes the program successfully, the charges will be expunged from his record.

"We weighed the risk / reward and felt that he was a good player and that we can take care of the situation," Greg Gabriel, the Bears' director of college scouting, said in regard to Harrison's arrest. "We researched the whole process very thoroughly.

" We have spoken to the attorneys and the court [in Arkansas ].... and we will continue that (court-controlled ) progr e, where he is under supervision. " When he completes that program, everything gets dropped and the slate is clean." Harrison has been open

sing his arrest since it happened and did so again in a teleconference Sunday with Chicago media. "I have made a really horrible mistake and of course I have seen how it has cost me, especially today," Harrison said. "That is exactly what it was. It was a mistake that I made in the past. " But I've moved on from it and right now just being positive about the whole situation and taking care of my business as far as my counseling going on and the classes I have to attend in order to get past the things that I went through. The situation is pretty much behind me and I'm moving on."

Bears Coach Lovie Smith attended Arkansas' Pro Day workout last month and spent about two hours talking with Harrison.

"He asked me if I would like to be a Chicago Bear," said Harrison, who had 186 career tackles at Arkansas in 47 games. "He pretty much went over everything, and how I would fit into the scheme of the defense that they run in Chicago.

" He told me if I was still around that he would come get me and he did. I guess he was a man of his word and I appreciate that.

" It's actually a dream come true as far as even being drafted, to be on a great team with a wonderful defense. There are a number of guys that I look up to on their defense like Tommie Harris and Brian Urlacher, the list goes on. Especially with a great coach like Lovie Smith, it's a blessing."

Garner, who came to Arkansas from Pulaski Robinson, didn't start on the offensive line for the Razorbacks until his fifth-year senior season and was a surprise pick by the Jets.

"I honestly didn't have a clue if I'd be [drafted ]," Garner said. "My agent [Drew Pittman ] told me it was looking like I'd be a free agent, and that's pretty much what I was thinking in the back of my mind.

" I knew a few teams were looking at me, but I didn't know if they'd take a chance and draft me. I was just watching and hoping, and it finally happened."

Garner, who watched the draft from his cousin's house in Dallas, pumped his fist to family members when the Jets called to let him know they were selecting him.

"It's an awesome feeling," Garner said. "I really can't believe it. It hasn't sunk in."

Hillis, from Conway, was a lead blocker for Darren McFadden and Felix Jones - former Arkansas tailbacks who were first-round picks on Saturday - and for his career caught 118 passes for 1, 195 yards and 11 touchdowns, rushed 203 times for 959 yards and 12 touchdowns and averaged 10. 3 yards on 25 punt returns.

Monk, from Lepanto, fell in the draft after undergoing two surgeries on his right knee in August to repair cartilage damage and missing the Razorbacks' first six games of the 2007 season. He wasn't full speed in the seven games he did play, but caught 16 passes for 144 yards and 3 touchdowns.

Monk, who said last month he is now fully recovered, finished his Arkansas career with 138 catches for 2, 151 yards and a school-record 27 touchdowns in 43 games.

Information for this report was