Speed propels five into NFL Draft
LUT WILLIAMS
BCSP Editor
Five black college football players, including a couple of surprises, went off the boards over the weekend as the NFL completed its 2008 draft of college players. Speed was their common denominator.
As expected, Tennessee State
defensive back Dominique Rodgers-Cromartie
was the first to be selected, going to the Arizona
Cardinals with the 16th pick of Saturday's first round.
Hampton defensive lineman Kendall Langford, the consensus second-best prospect among HBCU players, was next off going to Miami with the third pick of Sunday's third round.
The surprises began Sunday when Winston-Salem State defensive end William Hayes was selected with the fourth pick in the fourth round by Tennessee. Hayes, rated the 66th best defensive end according to draft guru Mel Kiper, was the 103rd overall selection.
Speedy Jackson State wide receiver/kick returner Jaymar Johnson was plucked with the 27th pick in the sixth round by Minnesota before Cleveland pulled another surprise, drafting St. Augustine's defensive end Alex Hall with the 24th pick of the seventh and final round.
Hayes and Hall were not invited to the NFL Combine and were therefore way down the list of players rated at their positions for the draft. But like the others, the ability to run fast and make plays factored into their selection.
Rodgers-Cromartie was the second defensive back to go off the boards, and is the first TSU player to be drafted since Avion Black was picked in the fifth round of the 2000 draft by Buffalo. He is also the Tigers' seventh first round selection overall, tying them for the lead amongst HBCUs with Jackson State. DRC is TSU's first first-rounder since Ed "Too Tall" Jones was the first overall selection in the 1974 draft by the Dallas Cowboys.
The 6-2, 185-pounder's size, speed (4.3 in the 40) and playmaking ability was just too good for Arizona to pass up.
"What stands out are his ball skills," said Arizona head coach Ken Whisenhunt in describing the Bradenton, Florida native. "I think that is something unique for his size. Someone that size, that speed, who makes plays on the football, that's become more and more important in this league."
Langford, who excelled at both defensive tackle and defensive end at Hampton, was also coveted for his size and quickness.
"He was on our radar pretty early," said Miami General Manager Jeff Ireland of Langford's selection. "Anybody that's 6-6 and 294 and runs 4.9 is going to be on our radar pretty quickly." Tennessee moved up 21 spots to grab the 6-1, 260-pound Hayes, who may earn the title of 'biggest sleeper" in the '08 draft. Hayes, who totalled 78 tackles and 8.5 sacks for the Rams this year, caught the eye of Tennessee scout Cole Proctor last summer during two-a-days at WSSU and then later wowed Proctor, and others, with a 4.61 40-yard dash time during workouts at Wake Forest.
"We had William in, looked at William," Titans' coach Jeff Fisher said. "The entire scouting staff looked at William over the last couple of days. We feel like William can come in and help us immediately at the end position. Despite the fact that he came from a smaller school, he has some skills that are rare."
And 'speed' was again the word in explaining Johnson's selection by Minnesota.
"We just like what he brings in terms of return ability, speed burst and catch," Vikings coach Brad Childress said at his post-draft press conference of Johnson's 4.41 40 speed and production as a receiver and kick returner.
Hall, who became the third player in St. Augustine's history and the first since the school reinstated football in 2002 to be drafted, was sort of a future pick by Cleveland. Speed (4.55 in the 40) and size (6-5, 255) were again the key elements.
"Realistically, you're looking at an '09 type of player," Cleveland GM Phil Savage said. "But this is a physical player. He looks the part."
As it stands, the five selections matches the number of black college players taken in last year's draft and represents the eighth straight year that HBCU selections have not reached double-figures. Thirteen (13) black college players were drafted in 2000 (See STAT CORNER).
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