SANDS AND THOMAS SELECTED
April 30, 2011 04:57 PM | General
Robert Sands and J.T. Thomas were also selected in today's NFL draft, Sands going in the fifth round (134th overall pick) to the Cincinnati Bengals and Thomas being selected in the sixth round (195th overall) by the Chicago Bears. It marks the first time since 1999 that West Virginia has had at least three defensive players taken in the same draft.
That year, cornerback Charles Fisher went in the second round to the Bengals, defensive tackle John Thornton went in the second round to the Tennessee Titans and linebacker Gary Stills went in the third round to the Kansas City Chiefs. Defensive tackle Kevin Landolt was also picked in '99, going in the fourth round to the Jacksonville Jaguars.
Sands opted to forgo his senior season to enter the NFL draft early. He earned Sporting News All-America and all-Big East recognition as a junior, producing 53 tackles and an interception in 2010. In three seasons for the Mountaineers, Sands was in on 151 tackles while picking off six passes at his free safety position.
Thomas, also an all-Big East first team pick, appeared in 49 career games during his four-year career, accumulating 233 total tackles, 27 tackles for losses and six sacks. He also picked off two passes and broke up 13 more.
West Virginia also had three players drafted in 2009. That year quarterback Pat White went in the second round to the Miami Dolphins, defensive back Ellis Lankster went in the seventh round to the Buffalo Bills and punter Pat McAfee was also taken in the seventh round by the Indianapolis Colts.
Mountaineers in the Draft Since 2000
2011, Brandon Hogan 4th, Carolina Panthers
2011, Robert Sands, 5th, Cincinnati Bengals
2011, J.T. Thomas, 6th, Chicago Bears
2010, Selvish Capers, 7th, Washington Redskins
2009, Pat White, 2nd, Miami Dolphins
2009, Ellis Lankster, 7th, Buffalo Bills
2009, Pat McAfee, 7th, Indianapolis Colts
2008, Steve Slaton, 3rd, Houston Texans
2008, Owen Schmitt, 5th, Seattle Seahawks
2008, Ryan Mundy, 6th, Pittsburgh Steelers
2006, Dee McCann, 6th, Detroit Lions
2005, Adam Jones, 1st, Tennessee Titans
2005, Chris Henry, 3rd, Cincinnati Bengals
2005, Rasheed Marshall, 5th, San Francisco 49ers
2004, Quincy Wilson, 7th, Atlanta Falcons
2003, Lance Nimmo, 4th, Tampa Bay Buccaneers
2003, James Davis, 5th, Detroit Lions
2000, Anthony Becht, 1st, New York Jets
2000, Jerry Porter, 2nd, Oakland Raiders
2000, Barrett Green, 2nd, Detroit Lions
2000, Marc Bulger, 6th, New Orleans Saints
That year, cornerback Charles Fisher went in the second round to the Bengals, defensive tackle John Thornton went in the second round to the Tennessee Titans and linebacker Gary Stills went in the third round to the Kansas City Chiefs. Defensive tackle Kevin Landolt was also picked in '99, going in the fourth round to the Jacksonville Jaguars.
Sands opted to forgo his senior season to enter the NFL draft early. He earned Sporting News All-America and all-Big East recognition as a junior, producing 53 tackles and an interception in 2010. In three seasons for the Mountaineers, Sands was in on 151 tackles while picking off six passes at his free safety position.
Thomas, also an all-Big East first team pick, appeared in 49 career games during his four-year career, accumulating 233 total tackles, 27 tackles for losses and six sacks. He also picked off two passes and broke up 13 more.
West Virginia also had three players drafted in 2009. That year quarterback Pat White went in the second round to the Miami Dolphins, defensive back Ellis Lankster went in the seventh round to the Buffalo Bills and punter Pat McAfee was also taken in the seventh round by the Indianapolis Colts.
Mountaineers in the Draft Since 2000
2011, Brandon Hogan 4th, Carolina Panthers
2011, Robert Sands, 5th, Cincinnati Bengals
2011, J.T. Thomas, 6th, Chicago Bears
2010, Selvish Capers, 7th, Washington Redskins
2009, Pat White, 2nd, Miami Dolphins
2009, Ellis Lankster, 7th, Buffalo Bills
2009, Pat McAfee, 7th, Indianapolis Colts
2008, Steve Slaton, 3rd, Houston Texans
2008, Owen Schmitt, 5th, Seattle Seahawks
2008, Ryan Mundy, 6th, Pittsburgh Steelers
2006, Dee McCann, 6th, Detroit Lions
2005, Adam Jones, 1st, Tennessee Titans
2005, Chris Henry, 3rd, Cincinnati Bengals
2005, Rasheed Marshall, 5th, San Francisco 49ers
2004, Quincy Wilson, 7th, Atlanta Falcons
2003, Lance Nimmo, 4th, Tampa Bay Buccaneers
2003, James Davis, 5th, Detroit Lions
2000, Anthony Becht, 1st, New York Jets
2000, Jerry Porter, 2nd, Oakland Raiders
2000, Barrett Green, 2nd, Detroit Lions
2000, Marc Bulger, 6th, New Orleans Saints
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