Pitt’s Clemmings finally gets called in fourth round
When T.J. Clemmings saw the Minnesota area code pop up on his cell phone, he knew the wait was finally over.
After two days of waiting and watching the 2015 NFL draft, Clemmings finally had been selected by the Vikings with the 11th pick of the fourth round, No. 110 overall.
Clemmings, a former Pitt offensive tackle, had been projected to go higher — some experts even had him as a first-round selection — but questions about his inexperience and a lingering foot injury caused him to slide to the third day of the draft.
“It was a little frustrating,” Clemmings said. “But I ultimately know that God had a plan and it was for me to be with the Minnesota Vikings. I’m great with that.”
The fact that Clemmings was even drafted at all is an achievement. Just three years ago he was a reserve defensive end for the Panthers struggling to find playing time.
He moved to offensive tackle after the 2012 season, and started all 26 games for Pitt over the past two years. He earned second-team All-American honors from the Football Writer’s Association of America, and was voted first-team All-ACC by the media and coaches.
Clemmings’ size (6 feet 5, 309 pounds) and athletic upside were intriguing to NFL teams, and he spent most of the draft process projected as a late first- or early second-round pick. Over the past few weeks, though, a reported stress fracture in his foot might have scared off some teams.
“All I can say is it’s not a concern for me,” Clemmings said of the injury. “I’ve had no problems with it.”
Two more from PSU
Adrian Amos lined up at cornerback and safety for the Nittany Lions and now will man the secondary for the Chicago Bears.
Amos was selected in the fifth round (142nd overall) and will be the second former Penn State player on the Chicago roster, joining kicker Robbie Gould.
“He has great football IQ and the fact that he has played for four defensive coordinators in college means he has seen different looks to the game,” Penn State defensive coordinator Bob Shoop said in a statement. “Chicago is getting someone who is going to work hard and be a special player.”
Former Nittany Lions tight end Jesse James, a South Allegheny High School product, was drafted by the Steelers in the fifth round (160th overall).
West Virginia sends 4
West Virginia’s four draft picks marks the most since the Mountaineers also sent four to the league in 2011. In addition to wide receiver Kevin White, who went seventh overall to Chicago, Mark Glowinski (134th overall) went to the Seahawks, Shaquille Riddick (158th overall) was drafted by the Cardinals and wide receiver Mario Alford (238th overall) went to Cincinnati.
Still waiting
Former Penn State linebacker and Canon-McMillan standout Mike Hull went undrafted. So did former Nittany Lions player Deion Barnes, who declared early. Defensive end C.J. Olaniyan also went undrafted. Former Penn State basketball player Ross Travis still is attempting to latch on with a team as a tight end but was not drafted. Former Syracuse offensive lineman Sean Hickey (Franklin Regional High School) went undrafted, too.
Oil City represented
Former Notre Dame tight end Ben Koyack (229th overall) was drafted by the Jaguars in the seventh round. Koyack played at Oil City High School.