By David Bashore

Herald sports editor

New York City The 2007 NFL Draft came and went without local product Jared Zabransky’s name being called, but his disappointment only lasted a matter of hours.

The Hermiston High alum and former Boise State star quarterback was not among the 255 players selected in the seven-round draft held Saturday and Sunday, but he still wound up with a host of suitors interested in his services as an undrafted free agent.

Between six to 10 franchises, according to Zabransky, were interested in handing him a free-agent contract, and the Houston Texans won the race for his signature.

For Zabransky, such a quick signing helped take some of the sting from not being selected, despite being projected by many experts as no later than a sixth-round selection.

“(Not being selected) kind of boggled my mind,” Zabransky said. “After I didn’t go on the first day, I expected to go early on the second day. It made me wonder about the process, because I thought I was one of the best (quarterbacks) out there.”

Instead of that scenario playing out, however, Zabransky stayed on the board while players like Jeff Rowe, Jordan Palmer, Kevin Kolb and Tyler Thigpen were tabbed.

In the end, Zabransky as well as a number of draft commentators resorted to waiting for the inevitable seventh-round run on quarterbacks, but it never came.

Boise State had four players Gerald Alexander, Korey Hall, Legedu Naanee and Derek Schoumann selected in the draft.

“I’m really excited for my guys because they deserve it,” Zabransky said. “They worked their tails off, and they’ve earned it.”

Zabransky not being among those Broncos tabbed on draft day, however, came as a shock, and the reasons weren’t defined but Zabransky believed it was down to not having any real outstanding measurables despite the intangibles on display in his final game, the famed Fiesta Bowl win over Okahoma.

“I don’t really know,” Zabransky said. “Sometimes there’s more to a quarterback being (6-foot-4) with a (strong) arm.”

Not being selected, while potentially bruising to an athlete’s pride, actually gives the prospect some level of say in where they begin their careers.

For Zabransky, it serves as a blessing in disguise.

“When you get to the sixth and seventh round, the money isn’t all that different than being a free agent,” Zabransky said. “Everything happens for a reason, and it worked out for the best. I’m very excited about the situation I’m going to in Houston.”

The Texans shelled out a second-round draft pick to Atlanta for young quarterback Matt Schaub, then handed him a massive contract and tabbed him the starter, but after Schaub the quarterback is anything but certain.

Journeyman veteran Tony Banks, the current backup signal-caller, is aging, and untested Bradlee Van Pelt rounds out the rotation at present.

Zabransky feels that the situation he enters into is one that will give him every opportunity to prove himself and earn a roster spot.

He added that he’ll surely be using his draft snub as motivation to prove to the other 31 teams that passed on him that they made a big mistake.

“It’s really lit a fire,” Zabransky said, hinting that his ?it’ factor and moxie haven’t diminished in the slightest. “I can’t wait to see the looks on the other teams’ faces when I work up to a starter and beat them.”

Zabransky plans to join the Texans’ off-season progam in Houston beginning on May 15.

David Bashore can be reached at dbashore@ hermistonherald.com.