DeOssie ready for Giant step

The irony was not lost on Zak DeOssie.

His father, Steve, a reliable long snapper and sturdy linebacker out of Boston College, suited up for five of his 12 NFL-playing seasons with the New York Giants and was a member of the organization's last Super Bowl-winning team in 1990.

His son has taken a different path to pro football, through the academics-first Ivy League and Brown University. But Zak DeOssie also will receive the same opportunity as his father: playing for the Giants.

Yesterday, New York selected the three-time All-Ivy linebacker, and proficient deep snapper, with its fourth-round pick in the NFL draft, the 116th selection overall, one of six New England players chosen in Rounds 4-7.

Boston College All-American guard Josh Beekman also went in the fourth round, to the defending NFC champion Bears.

"It's a great opportunity for me and it is unique," said the 6-foot-4 1/2-inch, 250-pound DeOssie, the highest Brown draftee since 1980, when tackle John Sinnott was selected by the St. Louis Cardinals with the 60th pick. "I am very happy for myself and my family."

He realized the Giants' interest was serious when he was invited to New York to meet with team officials last week.

With a never-ending motor, DeOssie was a dominant force at Brown. But his stock started to soar with pro scouts after an eye-opening eight-tackle performance at the East-West Shrine Game in Houston, along with his impressive physical work at the NFL Combine in Indianapolis.

Giants first-year general manager Jerry Reese called the combine workout "outstanding."

"Zak has the size and he has the speed," said Reese. "We helped ourselves at linebacker. He can help us as a long snapper and play on all the core special teams. We like that about him. We think we got a good player here, a productive player."

DeOssie, who prepped at Phillips Andover Academy, said special teams "will be how I get on the field first, and as a long snapper."

Brown coach Phil Estes said the Giants are getting a winner, "a guy that devotes everything to be the best he can be," he said. "And he has the confidence that he is as good as anyone. We're just so happy for him, everyone in the Brown community is."

Estes believes DeOssie has both the strength to anchor the edge as an outside linebacker and the skills to play on the inside. DeOssie, who compares his game to the Patriots' Mike Vrabel and the Bears' Brian Urlacher, prefers strongside linebacker.

"I have an Ivy League degree and I have a chance to play some football after college," said DeOssie, a public policy major. "It's a dream come true."

Beekman went to bed at his parents' home in Amsterdam, N.Y., late Saturday night "a bit disappointed," after he went undrafted in the first three rounds.

But his spirits picked up considerably early yesterday afternoon when the Bears made the versatile 6-1 1/2, 313-pounder the 31st pick of the fourth round, the 130th selection overall.

"It was a little stressful [Saturday], but everything works out in the end," said Beekman, the second Eagles lineman to be selected in this year's draft. Saturday night, the Cowboys chose BC left tackle James Marten in the third round with the 67th pick.

"Today, I get selected, it's the greatest honor and in retrospect, I'm in awe, and I'm ready to go to work," said Beekman.

A three-year anchor on the line who made 37 consecutive starts for the Eagles, Beekman offers the versatility of being able to play guard or center. Chicago has a veteran trio on the interior with guards Roberto Garza and Ruben Brown, along with center Olin Kreutz, but Beekman certainly has an opportunity to work his way into the rotation.

"Coach Lovie Smith told me that they liked what they saw on tape," said Beekman, who will be in a rookie camp this week. "What they're getting is a player that will be tenacious, play every down, for all 60 minutes."

The Bears also returned to New England to select New Hampshire cornerback Corey Graham with their fifth-round selection (168th overall). An All-Atlantic 10 selection as a junior who also can make an impact in the return game, the 5-11 3/4, 195-pound Graham missed the Wildcats' final six games last fall after breaking his fibula against James Madison.

In the sixth round, the Cowboys made 5-10 3/4, 243-pound fullback Deon Anderson of Connecticut the 195th pick, and 13 selections later the Patriots chose Central Connecticut back Justise Hairston, a 6-foot, 221-pounder who led 1-AA in rushing (167.9 yards) and average (6.7 yards per carry). Maine defensive back Daren Stone went to the Falcons in the sixth round, No. 203 overall.

New Hampshire's David Ball, the all-time touchdown reception leader in 1-AA, went undrafted.

Harvard tailback Clifton Dawson (Colts), Boston College wide receiver Taylor Sele (Redskins), and UConn tight end Dan Murray (Jaguars) all had signed free agent deals as of last night, according to their respective agents. Sele's pact is a three-year deal, according to agent Harry Sherr.

UMass had three players sign as free agents: receiver Brandon London (Giants), tailback Steve Baylark (Cardinals), and right guard David Thompson (Rams).

Mike Reiss of the Globe staff contributed to this report.