NFL Draft roundup: Three Hokies get selected, several others working out free agent deals
The NFL Draft is over, with three Hokies — David Wilson, Jayron Hosley and Danny Coale – being selected.
That matches the number of draftees Virginia Tech had last year, when Ryan Williams, Rashad Carmichael and Tyrod Taylor were picked.
Since 2000, the Hokies have had fewer than three picks only twice — 2009, when Victor “Macho” Harris was the only player selected, and 2003 when Lee Suggs and Willie Pile were the only players taken.
* Here’s what I wrote the last few days about this year’s drafted playars:
- New York Giants make David Wilson a 1st round pick
- What they’re saying about the Giants’ pick of David Wilson, plus some more draft nuggets
- Deja vu: Giants tap Virginia Tech again, take CB Jayron Hosley in 3rd round of NFL Draft
- Dallas Cowboys pick WR Danny Coale in 5th round of draft (and a slightly different version in today’s paper)
* What about the undrafted guys? Here’s what’s out there:
- Guard Jaymes Brooks tweeted that he signed with the Green Bay Packers shortly after the draft.
- Tackle Blake DeChristopher told Virginia Tech that he is close to signing a deal with the Arizona Cardinals.
- Safety Eddie Whitley tweeted that he signed with the Dallas Cowboys.
- Overnight update: WR Jarrett Boykin to Jacksonville and CB Cris Hill to Buffalo, per Virginia Tech’s Twitter.
- Dallas Cowboys: Coale
- New York Giants: Wilson, Hosley
- Philadelphia Eagles: QB Michael Vick, DE Darryl Tapp
- Washington Redskins: CB DeAngelo Hall, C/G Will Montgomery, WR Josh Morgan
I posed this question on Twitter yesterday, but I’ll do it here too. I figure many Virginia Tech fans are also Redskins fans just based on geography. How do you feel about Wilson, Hoseley and Coale going to rival teams within the division? Can you still root for them? Feel free to comment in the section below.
* ESPN has some early draft grades out for the Giants and Cowboys. The consensus? They gave Wilson a B, Hosley a B-minus and Coale a consensus grade of C-plus. Click on the links for their rationale.
April 29, 2012 - 12:00 AM
You mean “Josh” Morgan with the Redskins, not Justin.
Danny C. to Dallas………..boy that really upsets the tranquility of my tepee!!!!!!!
Not a Redskins fan at all, but I will enjoy watching those former Hokies play. It’ll be tough seeing Coale in a Cowboys uniform, but just because it’s Coale, I’ll cheer him on. I hope someday Coale return to Blacksburg as a coach. I can see that in him.
As for the undrafted guys, I think whoever gets them are getting good players. I hope that Boykin have a productive career, I hated it for him he didn’t get drafted, but at least he’ll become a proven commodity.
Best of luck to all the former Hokies.
Terrible. I was totally expecting Boykin to sign with the Eagles after the previous draftings/signings. Ugh. Sorry, guys. It was fun while it lasted.
Anyone interested in the NFL draft, present and past, should check out this site. It goes back to 1988 and breaks down the draft in just any category of interest including pro team, college, conference, player, position etc. Very enlightening:
http://www.usatoday.com/sports/football/nfl/draft-history-graphic.htm
Everyone should remeber that the draft was once 14 rounds and the free agent signings are roughly the equivalent of being a very late round selection. I presume it is always better to be drafted than to be signed as a free agent but it is infinately better to be signed than to try out as a walk-on (for those teams that allow it) for the NFL.
I think all of the guys mentioned have a chance to make their teams, or at least the practice squad, based on what those teams need. Dallas is a mess in the secondary and Whitley could start on special teams as a rookie. Nobody has enough big body guys so they have a chance as does Hill.
Boykin probably got the best break as the Jags really stink and they need weapons. His skills will shine there if he is really good enough for the next level.
All in all I say not bad for Hokies although I still dislike Coale with the Cowgirls. Yes, their #3 spot is open. Yes, Keith Whited (a Dallas recievers coach and son of a good friend of mine) says Coale will “be in the mix” for that job. I just wish he had a gone to a team I like… On the other hand, with Austin and Bryant and their TE Coale does not need to be anything other than the 5th option in progressions so his downfield blocking, etc., will be more important than anything else. Since Tech makes its starters really work (and Coale is a real work horse) I think Coale has a good chance to make the team.
I wish them all well.
I am really curious to see how Eddie Royal does with the Chargers….