Chosen ones
Ravens take Aggie receiver; Miami selects UNM kicker
Lobo Sanders, Aggie Scott selected in NFL Draft
New Mexico State’s Jaleel Scott can catch it. New Mexico’s Jason Sanders can boot it. The NFL has noticed.
So the Aggie and Lobo were selected in the draft on Saturday, its final day. The lengthy Scott, a receiver measuring nearly 6-foot-5, went in the fourth round to Baltimore. The thunder-legged Sanders went in the seventh round to Miami as only the second place-kicker taken in the three-day event.
The Ravens and Dolphins felt strongly enough about those two to spend a draft pick on them and head off any post-draft recruiting. Meanwhile, former Lobo quarterback Lamar Jordan tweeted Saturday evening that he had signed with the Atlanta Falcons, and Lobo punter Corey Bojorquez tweeted that he
had signed with New England. New Mexico State running back Larry Rose III signed with the Tennessee Titans.
“An opportunity is an opportunity. Off to New England in 2 weeks!” Bojorquez tweeted.
Jordan, who is thought to have been signed as a receiver, posted a photo of a Michael Vick Falcons jersey on a wall. He tweeted, “God don’t make mistakes.. been hangin up since 02”.
Scott continues the feel-good story that is Aggie football over the past several months, which included a 7-6 season and the program’s first bowl game since 1960.
The Rock Hill, S.C., native started in all 13 games for NMSU and finished 23rd in the NCAA and second in the Sun Belt Conference with 1,079 receiving yards. The red zone threat also led the conference and was 25th in the country with nine receiving touchdowns in his final year.
Scott, taken 132nd overall, is the first Aggie chosen in the draft since the Jacksonville Jaguars took defensive back Jeremy Harris in the seventh round in 2013. The wideout is also the highest Aggie taken in the draft since defensive back Davon House was selected in the fourth round, pick 131, by the Green Bay Packers in 2011.
“Never had a player work harder or be a better team player. We are all proud of you!!#Aggieup” tweeted NMSU head coach Doug Martin.
House, who recently re-signed with Green Bay, and San Francisco’s Kyle Nelson are the two Aggies on active NFL rosters.
Miami has an opening for a kicker, and by Saturday afternoon, Sanders had become the front-runner for the job. Cody Parkey, who performed those duties for the Dolphins last season, has signed with Chicago.
The Dolphins were the first team to have a private workout with Sanders this spring.
Sanders came to UNM on scholarship in 2014 from Villa Park High School in Orange, Calif. He made 25 of 35 field-goal attempts during his career. He was 22-of-28 the past two seasons and was 12-of-13 as a junior in 2016.
Known for the power in his right leg, Sanders made 11 field goals from 40 yards or more and four from 50 or more during his UNM career.
The past two seasons, 108 of his 142 kickoffs sailed into or through the end zone for touchbacks.
Sanders is the second UNM kicker to be selected in the NFL Draft. Bob Berg was a 17th-round pick by the Buffalo Bills in 1976.
Also noteworthy from the draft:
Central Florida’s Shaquem Griffin was taken 141st overall by Seattle, where his twin brother Shaquill is on the roster. Shaquem Griffin, who has one hand, is one of the most popular players in this draft because of his perseverance, outgoing personality and, of course, his talent. “That was the most amazing experience of my entire life,” he said.
Michigan defensive tackle Maurice Hurst was taken one spot in front of Griffin by Oakland. The All-American would have gone much earlier, but a heart condition was discovered at the combine, dropping him far down draft boards.
He had 5½ sacks as an interior rusher and led all nose tackles and defensive tackles with 49 total quarterback pressures, according to Pro Football Focus.
Michigan State extended its streak of having at least one player selected to 78 years when Brian Allen went to the Rams early in the fourth round. Only Michigan and USC have longer streaks, both extended to 80 years during the first two days of the draft.
Alabama had 12 players selected, breaking its program record of 10.
The Giants took the first quarterback of the third day, Richmond’s Kyle Lauletta at No. 109. The Giants passed on trying to get their quarterback of the future to replace Eli Manning in the first round, taking running back Saquon Barkley at No. 2 overall. Lauletta doesn’t have a big arm, but he showed good athleticism and accuracy playing at the FCS school.
Other quarterbacks chosen: Western Kentucky’s Mike White to Dallas; Washington State’s Luke Falk to Tennessee; Nebraska’s Tanner Lee to Jacksonville; LSU’s Danny Etling to New England; Florida International’s Alex McGeough to Seattle; and Toledo’s Logan Woodside to Cincinnati.