http://www.hbcusportsblog.com/2008/04/black-college-n.html

Dominique Rodgers-Cromartie got the party started on day one of the NFL Draft, and black college standouts continued to have their names called into today, as several players from historically black colleges an universities realized their dreams of beginning an NFL career. Here's a look back at key pick-ups.

BCU Bobbie Williams signed FA contract with Detroit Lions

WILLIAM HAYES FROM WSSU GOT PICK 4TH ROUND 103 TO TENN. TITANS GO "BIG PLAY HAYES"

quote:

Originally posted by bubbles52:
WILLIAM HAYES FROM WSSU GOT PICK 4TH ROUND 103 TO TENN. TITANS GO "BIG PLAY HAYES"

I got a chance to play with him at the Heritage Bowl and then met him again at the All-American weekend. The guys a hell of an athlete and has a great head on his shoulders, I think he'll be a play maker in the league.

Rudy Hardie got a FA deal with detroit Lions!!!

Who selected the wide receiver from Deleware St.

I heard Casey Hansen is about to sign with the New Orleans Saints!

quote:

Originally posted by cassino:
Who selected the wide receiver from Deleware St.

No one. Went to NFL.com and they don't think he is strong enough

quote:

Originally posted by cassino:
Who selected the wide receiver from Deleware St.

Signed as a free agent by the Philadelphia Eagles.Shaheer McBride
Wide Receiver
6-1, 205
Delaware State

A four-year starter at Delaware State, holds school records in receptions (201) and yards (3,007), while adding 33 TDs. Was an All-Delaware County first-team selection as a senior at Chester (PA) HS, 17 miles south of Philadelphia. Also lettered in basketball and was named 2002-03 conference player of the year, after averaging 15 points and 10 rebounds per game. Born 2/8/85 in Chester

quote:

Originally posted by BowieMorganBear:

quote:

Originally posted by cassino:
Who selected the wide receiver from Deleware St.

Signed as a free agent by the Philadelphia Eagles.Shaheer McBride
Wide Receiver
6-1, 205
Delaware State

A four-year starter at Delaware State, holds school records in receptions (201) and yards (3,007), while adding 33 TDs. Was an All-Delaware County first-team selection as a senior at Chester (PA) HS, 17 miles south of Philadelphia. Also lettered in basketball and was named 2002-03 conference player of the year, after averaging 15 points and 10 rebounds per game. Born 2/8/85 in Chester

NICE!!!!. Now all he needs to do is get in there and perform. Forget the names and the rankings. Its a level playing field now. Perform and your good. Period.

Lakewood Ranch's Rodgers-Cromartie heading to Arizona

Dominique Rodgers-Cromartie, is hugged by his grandmother Cora Rodgers, after Dominique was selected by the Arizona Cardnials during the first round of the NFL Draft Saturday. The suspense started just after 3 p.m. More than 100 family members and friends filled Melissa Rodgers' home and tuned in to ESPN's broadcast of the NFL Draft.

The man of the hour, who everybody had gathered together to celebrate, was nowhere to be found.

Lakewood Ranch High graduate Dominique Rodgers-Cromartie was nestled in a back room. Periodically, someone would holler, "Where's Dominique?" The answer: "He's in the room."

When the Arizona Cardinals made Rodgers-Cromartie the 16th pick of the 2008 draft, he finally emerged.

He was met by a gang of hugs, kisses and tears of joy from the congregation.

"There was a lot of people out here, and I didn't have anywhere to sit," Rodgers-Cromartie said. "I needed a comfortable place to sit."

Rodgers-Cromartie was the second defensive back taken - behind Troy University 's Leodis McKelvin, who was picked 11th by the Buffalo Bills.

South Florida and former Southeast High standout cornerback Mike Jenkins was selected 25th overall by the Dallas Cowboys.

But now life will change abruptly for Rodgers-Cromartie.

The young man who burst on the scene out of nowhere from tiny Tennessee State, a Division I-AA school, where the competition isn't on the elite level, must prove the Cardinals didn't make a mistake. Every receiver who lines up across from him will have exceptional speed and agility and be technically sound.

The NFL is the cream of the crop.

"Coming from a small school . . . people are saying I haven't played against anybody," Rodgers-Cromartie said. "Now I just have to prove that I'm no sleeper."

Transition isn't hard for Rodgers-Cromartie. He attended three different high schools.

"I've come a long way," said Rodgers-Cromartie, who intercepted 11 passes at TSU. "All I'm going to do is continue to work hard to stay in the league, and do the best I can.

"This is a dream come true. It's a blessing."

The 6-foot-2, 182-pound cornerback had no clue the Cardinals were going to draft him. Rodgers-Cromartie visited 14 NFL teams, but Arizona was not one of them.

"I had no idea," he said. "This was a big surprise to me."

But his agent, Eugene Parker, did.

The Cardinals coveted Rodgers-Cromartie at the NFL Combine, where he wowed scouts by running a blazing 4.33 seconds in the 40-yard dash and jumping 38½ inches at the NFL Scouting Combine in Indianapolis . They also were at his pro day at TSU.

Maybe Rodgers-Cromartie can be a positive building block for a team that has one playoff win in the past 58 years.

On Friday, Parker was about to tell Rodgers-Cromartie that Arizona raved about him, but Rodgers-Cromartie said, "I don't want to know anything. I will wait and see."

"It wasn't that odd at all," Parker said of the Cardinals drafting Rodgers-Cromartie. "Visits don't mean anything. If the running back they wanted wasn't available, I knew they were going to look at corner. He was high on their board."

Rodgers-Cromartie flies to Arizona today for a press conference.

Ed Tomlin, director of football development for Under Armour, was present at Rodgers-Cromartie's home.

The older brother of Pittsburgh Steelers head coach Mike Tomlin announced Rodgers-Cromartie signed a three-year contract Saturday to be a player/representative for the apparel company.

He's the first cornerback Under Armour has ever signed, and the only player from this year's draft.

"He's the guy we are going to use as the foundation of our speed line," Tomlin said. "I just like the kid. He's a good person, but he's an exceptional and a phenomenal athlete. And he's highly coachable.