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LAKE FOREST, Ill. – The Bears on Saturday selected Central Michigan quarterback Dan LeFevour with the 181st overall pick in the sixth round of the draft.

The 6-3, 230-pounder was a highly productive four-year starter in college, becoming the first player in NCAA history to pass for 12,000 yards and run for 2,500 yards in his career.

LeFevour led Central Michigan to bowl games in all four of his seasons. As a sophomore in 2007, he guided the Chippewas to the MAC championship and their first 10-win season in 27 years. The Chicago area native was named the conference’s offensive player of the year after passing for 3,652 yards and 27 touchdowns while rushing for 1,122 yards and 19 TDs on 188 carries.

LeFevour, who grew up in Downers Grove and attended Benet Academy in Lisle, was thrilled to be drafted by his hometown team.

“That means everything to me,” LeFevour said. “It’s a dream come true literally. I’ve been watching the Bears for quite a few years now, and if you go in my room, it’s decorated with all Chicago Bears stuff. 

“Obviously this is just the beginning though and I realize that. But it’s a great day for me and I’m really proud to be a part of that organization.”

Bears area scout Jeff Shiver compared LeFevour style-wise to former Bears quarterback Bobby Douglass.

“Dan LeFevour is a winner,” Shiver said. “He’s a big kid. He’s won a lot of games. He has passed for a lot of yards. A long time ago, I missed on a quarterback in the sixth round [Tom Brady]. I think he’s still with the Patriots.”

One knock against LeFevour isn’t that he doesn’t have a strong enough arm to play in the NFL.

“Just talking to people around the league and some coaches that I’ve been able to come in contact with, I think it is [strong enough],” LeFevour said. 

“As I improve my mechanics and get my lower body into throws a little bit more, I think that that will become more evident that I have a little bit more left in the tank than I’ve shown in college.”

LeFevour must also adjust to taking snaps directly from center in a pro-style offense after lining up in the shotgun in a spread system at Central Michigan.

“I think it’s definitely a difference,” LeFevour said. “I’m not going to say that it’s not because it is. But the more you work on it, the more it becomes more fluid and easier. I’ve been working on it ever since our bowl game back on January 7 and continuously doing that for a few months now.

“So I feel like I’ve been making a lot of progress, but I’ve got a few more strides to go before I feel extremely comfortable under center. It’s been great so far, but I’ve just got to keep working.

“I’ve got to prove that I can go under center and still be able to complete the ball and manage an offense, and that’s just fine. I’m up to the challenge and I’m looking forward to proving people wrong from that aspect.”

Some experts predicted that LeFevour would go much higher in the draft than the sixth round.

“Obviously this is a process that you can’t control, and as a quarterback you want as much control as possible,” he said. “It’s a little bit aggravating at times and it tries your patience a little bit. 

“But you’ve got to realize that it’s all going to work out and someone’s going to give me a chance to play at the next level and they’re going to give me a chance because they like the way I play. It might not have happened in the round that I liked, but it’s definitely to the right team and I’m very excited to be here.”