NEW YORK -- University of Delaware All-American quarterback Joe Flacco (at right) will not have to travel far to continue his professional football career.

Flacco, the Blue Hens’ 6-6, 230 lb. standout signal caller, became the first player in Delaware football history to be selected in the first round of the National Football League Draft Saturday afternoon when he was selected with the 18th overall pick by the Baltimore Ravens.

The Ravens, who went 5-11 last season and will be led by first-year head coach John Harbaugh this fall, made a trade with the Houston Texans to move up in the draft and used it to make Flacco the second quarterback selected. Matt Ryan of Boston College was the first quarterback selected when he was picked by Atlanta with the third pick overall.

Flacco, who played two seasons at Delaware after transferring from the University of Pittsburgh, becomes just the second NCAA Football Championship Subdivision (formerly NCAA I-AA) quarterback to be selected in the first round in NFL history. Steve McNair, who played for the Ravens last season but retired following the season, was picked third overall by the Tennessee Titans out of Alcorn State in the 1995 draft.

“I was nervous all day because I didn’t want to miss a phone call,” said Flacco, who will meet with the Baltimore media Sunday. “When I did get a call and it was a 410 area code, I was surprised because I knew the Ravens were still eight picks away. But it was (GM) Ozzie Newsome and he asked me if wanted to be a Baltimore Raven. I couldn’t have been more excited. Baltimore is a great place and the Ravens are close to becoming a really good team. I’m just anxious to get down there and prove to them that I can be a great quarterback in the NFL. This is what I have wanted to do all my life and I’m excited to get started. It’s going to be a lot of fun, but a lot of hard work is ahead. Playing is what its all about and I can’t wait to get to it.”

A native of Audubon, NJ (Audubon High School), Flacco becomes the highest NFL draft pick in Delaware history and the fourth quarterback selected. Quarterback Rich Gannon, who retired two years ago following a All-Pro career, was selected in the fourth round of the 1987 draft by New England (and later traded to Minnesota), becoming the highest pick ever for the Blue Hens.

Other UD quarterbacks selected in the draft were Jeff Komlo by Detroit in 1979, Scott Brunner by the New York Giants in 1980, and Andy Hall by Philadelphia in 2006.

“I talked with John Harbaugh and (offensive coordinator) Cam Cameron this week and I could tell that the Ravens had strong feelings for Joe,” said Delaware head coach K.C. Keeler, who led the Blue Hens to the NCAA Division I championship game this past fall and to the national title in 2003. “I really got the idea that they liked Joe a lot and he was the guy they wanted. I know he interviewed well when he talked with them and they obviously loved his physical ability. I know that some teams had Joe ranked as the top quarterback in the draft and if he played at a USC, he might have been the top pick in the entire draft. Joe is built to have a long career and I think he’ll be as ready as any quarterback in the draft to play right away. Everyone knows of Joe’s strong arm and physical ability, but he brings so much more to the table. He’s a competitor, he is unflappable, and his intelligence, mental toughness, and calm demeanor are what people will see in Baltimore. Delaware was the right fit for Joe and he was the right fit for us. We’re proud of him and excited to see him continue to the next level.”

The Ravens play their home games in M&T Bank Stadium, just an hour south of the University of Delaware campus and less than two hours from Flacco’s home. Flacco will join the competition at quarterback that includes Kyle Boller and Troy Smith.

Boller threw for 1,743 yards and nine touchdowns and Smith threw for 452 yards and two touchdowns a year ago. McNair threw for 1,113 yards and two touchdowns during the season.

Flacco, an honor student as an accounting major, set 20 school records during his career and enjoyed an outstanding senior season for the Blue Hens in 2007, leading the team to the NCAA Division I FCS national championship game.

He earned Colonial Athletic Association Co-Offensive Player of the Year, Eastern College Athletic Conference Eastern Player of the Year, and third team The Sports Network All-American honors. He completed 331 of 521 passes for 4,263 yards and 23 touchdowns with just five interceptions during the 2007 season as he ranked No. 6 in the nation in passing yardage per game (284.2), No. 10 in total offense per game (285.7), and No. 18 in passing efficiency (144.91).

Delaware has now had a total of 28 players selected since the draft began, including last year’s pick, tight end Ben Patrick, who was tabbed in the seventh round by the Arizona Cardinals. Patrick and Cleveland Browns defensive back Mike Adams are the only two current Blue Hen players in the NFL.

Delaware running back Omar Cuff, who earned consensus first team All-American honors last season when he led the nation in scoring with 39 touchdowns, could also be selected in the draft Sunday when the third through seventh rounds take place.

In addition to Flacco and Cuff, other Colonial Athletic Association draft hopefuls are Richmond running back Tim Hightower and wide receiver Arman Shields and New Hampshire quarterback Ricky Santos.