Best New Orleans Saints Draft Choices From FBS Schools: Louisiana

Who is the best player the New Orleans Saints ever drafted from the Louisiana Ragin' Cajuns?

From May 1 until the start of the 2016 NFL season on September 11, we’re going to list the best players that the Saints ever drafted from all 128 FBS schools, as of 2015.

Of course, there are a number of schools, including Air Force, Appalachian St., Arizona, Army, Baylor, Boise St., Bowling Green, Buffalo, Central Florida, Central Michigan, East Carolina, FAU, FIU, Hawaii, and South Alabama, in which the Saints have never drafted a player.

Yesterday, we looked at the best player the Saints ever drafted from Kentucky.

Today, we spotlight the best player the Saints ever drafted from Louisiana.

When it comes to selecting the best player the Saints ever drafted from Louisiana, the choice is limited to kicker Rafael Septien (1977) and offensive lineman Keno Hills (1996).

Septien had a long, successful NFL career, but never played in a single game for the Saints, so, obviously, the pick is going to be Hills, an offensive guard, who played three years for the team, from 1996-1998.

A native of Tampa, Florida, Hills was selected by the Saints in the 6th round of the 1996 NFL Draft.

The 6-foot-6, 305-pound Hills played in only one game as a rookie, while wearing #76.

In his second season, Hills saw more playing time, appearing in 9 games, while starting 6, for a team that finished 6-10 under head coach Mike Ditka.

In 1998, his final year with the Saints, and his final season in the NFL, Hills played in 12 games, while starting one.

Hills was inactive for 7 games with the Saints in 1999, before signing with the Chicago Bears, where he was inactive for one game.

The Miami Dolphins signed Hills prior to the 2000 campaign, but he failed to make the team.

In 3 seasons in the NFL, all with the Saints, Hills appeared in 22 games, including 7 as a starter.