NEW ORLEANS (AP) — While some of his teammates concentrated on the NFL draft, Brandon Surtain devoted his time to his memories of New Orleans' 9th Ward.

He spent his childhood there, and his pre-Katrina memories still linger.

The neighborhood was poor, and the historic hurricane forced Surtain's family to take refuge in Baton Rouge. That wasn't a bad thing. He played football for McKinley High and eventually earned a spot on LSU's defense, where he wore No. 27.