Eric Turner Knew Browns Wanted Him : Local players: Bruin safety gains rare distinction as No. 2 pick of the NFL draft. Patriots take USC’s Harlow.

In the 56 years of the NFL draft, only one other defensive back has ever been drafted higher than UCLA safety Eric Turner, the No. 2 player in the first round Sunday, when he became the top pick of the Cleveland Browns.

Gary Glick of Colorado A&M;, who was the league’s first draft choice in 1956, had an uneventful career with the Pittsburgh Steelers.

“I knew at 7 a.m. (Sunday) that it was about a 75% chance that Cleveland would draft me, so I wasn’t surprised,” Turner said. “I feel great to be chosen in the first round. It still hasn’t hit me yet, but I’m excited.”

Turner, who stands 6 feet 1 1/2 inches and weighs 207 pounds, is the fourth Bruin defensive back drafted in the first round, following Kermit Alexander, Kenny Easley and the late Don Rogers.

Turner, a track star at Ventura High, will be remembered for two plays in particular at UCLA:

--Sprinting down the sideline with an interception, he was run down by a quarterback, USC’s Rodney Peete, in 1987.

--Turner’s interception against Washington last season with 1:27 left led to the field goal that upset the Huskies, 25-22, taking them out of the national championship race.

The first USC player drafted Sunday, tackle Pat Harlow, became the Trojans’ 17th first-round offensive lineman since 1968.

“I thought I was going to Dallas, (but) I’m excited and happy to be going to New England,” Harlow said. “They checked on my back (and) said they’d play me at tackle or center.”

USC offensive line coach John Matsko on Harlow: “Pat plays the offensive line with a defensive temperament.”

The Seattle Seahawks made San Diego State’s 6-8 quarterback, Dan McGwire, the 16th pick. He became the first San Diego State first-round pick since Isaac Curtis in 1973.

Said McGwire: “To be taken in the first round is just an honor. I felt I was the best quarterback out there, and to be selected by Seattle is just outstanding.”

Seattle was his first choice--his father, John, graduated from the University of Washington dental school, and his mother, Ginger, is from Seattle. John has three brothers and three sisters in the Seattle area.

Plus, Seattle is in the AFC West, so McGwire, who is from Damien High in La Verne, is assured of two games a year in Southern California--in Los Angeles and San Diego. He likes the Seahawk system, and said he and Ken Meyer, Seattle quarterback coach, hit it off when Meyer visited San Diego State.

“They have a very well-balanced attack,” McGwire said. “They mix it up and spread the defense out.”

McGwire passed for 7,484 yards and 43 touchdowns in two seasons at San Diego State.

Colorado running back Eric Bienemy of La Puente’s Bishop Amat High was drafted in the second round by the Chargers.

Contributing: Times staff writer Scott Miller and Times wire services.