He was passed over for All-American status and even All-Big 12 honors.

If Sam Koch were the type to do so, he could now say, “I told you so.”

The former Nebraska standout on Sunday was the first punter selected in the NFL draft, taken in the sixth round as the 203rd pick overall by the Baltimore Ravens.

“I’m just ecstatic to be picked anywhere,” Koch said from his home in Seward, where nearly 20 friends and family gathered in his living room. “To be the first punter picked, it’s an honor. It’s very hard to believe.”

Steve Mudder, the punter’s agent, actually has been a believer all along.

“We always knew Sam was the best punter in the draft, and this proves it,” Mudder said.

Two other former Nebraska players — defensive tackles Le Kevin Smith and Titus Adams — were selected shortly after Koch as the draft concluded Sunday with rounds 4-7.

Smith was taken in sixth round, 206th overall, by the New England Patriots, and Adams went in the seventh round, 220th overall, to the New York Jets.

Safety Daniel Bullocks was the only Nebraska player selected Saturday, by the Detroit Lions during the second round. It marks the second straight year the Huskers failed to have an offensive player drafted.

Koch comes off arguably the finest season ever by a Nebraska punter, shattering the school’s single-season record with his average of 46.51 yards per boot. He placed 29 of his kicks inside opponents’ 20-yard line and did not have a punt blocked.

His season average topped the two-year-old mark of 45.12 by Kyle Larson, now of the Cincinnati Bengals.

Koch’s average ranked second nationally and led Nebraska to a No. 2 ranking nationally in net punting. Nevertheless, he was shut out of All-American recognition by most major sources and failed to land an invite to the annual NFL scouting combine.

“But Nebraska fans understood his value,” said Mudder, a native of Neligh who now works in Atlanta.

So did Baltimore, which had been among five teams showing heavy interest in Koch. He’s expected to provide stiff competition for veteran Leo Araguz, whom the Ravens recently signed as a free agent to fill a hole left by Dave Zastudil, who left Baltimore to sign with the Cleveland Browns.

About two weeks ago, Baltimore special teams coordinator Frank Gansz Jr. came to Lincoln to watch Koch punt. Despite an impressive session by Koch, Gansz said the Ravens were leaning toward Steve Weatherford of Illinois because Weatherford also could perform kickoff duties.

Koch responded that day by showing Gansz that he also could kick off.

“That probably put me over the top,” Koch said.

Miami, Seattle, Minnesota and Philadelphia also had expressed strong interest in Koch, who in two weeks will head to Baltimore’s month-long mini-camp. The Ravens open preseason camp in late July, “and that’s when the competition really starts,” Mudder said.

The minimum NFL salary is $275,000. Based on last year’s draft, Koch, a father of two with a third on the way, should receive a signing bonus in the neighborhood of $65,000, Mudder said.

Meanwhile, Smith prepares to join a New England franchise that has captured three of the last five Super Bowls. The 19th defensive tackle selected in the draft, Smith will be in a battle for a roster spot this summer with former second-round pick Marquise Hill, second-year player Mike Wright, Dan Klecko and practice squad graduate Santonio Holmes.

Standout nose tackle Vince Wilfork anchors the Patriots 3-4 defense.

Adams also likely will have to battle to make a Jets team that will be guided by first-year head coach Eric Mangini, formerly New England’s defensive coordinator. Unlike most draft-eligible players, Adams didn’t watch rounds unfold Sunday on ESPN because his mom’s home in Omaha doesn’t have cable television. She’s simply not a big TV watcher, Adams said.

“We were just having fun, playing cards and relaxing,” Adams said. “I knew it was a big day for me, but I didn’t know what round they were in or anything. But now, man, I’m ready to go.”

Among other ex-Huskers, running back Cory Ross agreed to a free-agent deal with Baltimore, and offensive lineman Seppo Evwaraye is headed to Carolina, also as a free agent.

Reach Steven M. Sipple at 473-7440 or ssipple@journalstar.com.