Bears grab Ashland’s Shaheen

Adam Shaheen’s unlikely rise from Division II basketball player to the NFL became a reality Friday night.

With the 45th pick of the NFL draft, the Chicago Bears took the Big Walnut and Ashland University product. As the Bears rebuild, they are counting on the tight end to be a prime target for quarterback Mitchell Trubisky, the second overall pick.

By his admission, Shaheen was no better than an aboveaverage receiver and safety at Big Walnut. The only college scholarship he was offered was for basketball by Division II Pitt-Johnstown.

“I know my story is definitely not a common (one),” Shaheen told The Dispatch before the NFL combine. “It’s a little different road than most people take.”

After one year at Pitt-Johnstown, the itch to play football returned. He enrolled at Ashland and developed at a stunning rate. He gained 75 pounds without losing speed or agility and became a dominating player.

Shaheen caught 70 passes for 803 yards and 10 touchdowns in 2015. Last season, he caught 57 passes for 867 yards and 16 scores.

As the NFL combine approached, scouts and draft analysts raved about Shaheen’s potential, even if Ashland’s level of competition gave some pause.

Shaheen is by far the highest-drafted player ever to come from Ashland. The Eagles have had only three players drafted, none higher than the 211th overall pick.

Colts take Ohio’s Basham in third

second round and Ohio defensive end Tarell Basham in the third.

Basham adds an edge pass-rusher for a team that had only 33 sacks last season and lost its top two pass-rushers.

The Colts took Ohio State safety Malik Hooker in the first round Thursday. It’s the first time since 2010, and the fourth time since 2000, that the Colts have used their first three draft picks exclusively on defensive players.

At 6-4, 269 pounds, Basham was named the Mid-American Conference defensive player of the year after finishing with 11½ sacks. He finished his career as the Bobcats’ all-time sacks leader (29½).

Jaguars pick Groveport’s Smoot

Groveport graduate Dawuane Smoot, a defensive end from Illinois, was selected in the third round by the Jacksonville Jaguars.