Three more West Virginia University football players were selected today on the final day of the NFL Draft taking place in Nashville, Tennessee.
As was the case on Friday night when quarterback
Will Grier and offensive tackle
Yodny Cajuste heard their names called on consecutive picks, wide receiver
Gary Jennings Jr. and tight end
Trevon Wesco went in succession this afternoon with selections 120 and 121 of the fourth round to the Seattle Seahawks and New York Jets respectively.
Linebacker
David Long Jr. was taken two rounds later when the Tennessee Titans drafted him with the 188
thpick.
Jennings was one of the most productive wide receivers in WVU history with 168 catches for 2,294 yards and 17 touchdowns, including a 54-catch, 917-yard, 13-touchdown senior season in 2018 to earn honorable mention All-Big 12 honors.
His best game of 2018 came against Oklahoma when he caught seven passes for a season-high 225 yards and two touchdowns. During his junior season, the Stafford, Virginia, resident caught a team-best 97 passes for 1,096 yards.
"(Seattle general manager) John Schneider knows what he's doing," ESPN draft analyst Todd McShay said. "He's a scout. That's where his background is and he digs deep to find guys like this and he understands what he's looking for. This guy Jennings has exploded. He had 17 catches his first two years and 151 the last two years. It's a good pick."
Jennings is going into a favorable situation in Seattle with veteran Seahawk receiver Doug Baldwin dealing with various injuries the last couple of seasons.
Wesco caught two career passes before blossoming into one of the best blocking tight ends in the country in 2018 that also included 26 receptions for 366 yards and a touchdown. The coaches voted the athletic, 6-foot-4-inch, 270-pound Martinsburg resident to the All-Big 12 first team.
"I think he's the best blocking tight end in this class," McShay said. "He had a great week at the Senior Bowl. I can tell you this, there are a couple of teams that are throwing things in their war room because they were really hoping to get him in the fourth-round range."
Wesco becomes the first WVU player from the state to get drafted since running back Quincy Wilson was taken in the seventh round by the Atlanta Falcons in 2004, and only the third since 1990.
He also becomes the first WVU tight end drafted since 2000 when Anthony Becht was a first round choice, also by the Jets.
Long was an Associated Press second team All-American and the Big 12 Defensive Player of the Year after his 111-tackle, 19-TFL, 8-sack junior season in 2018. In 34 career games, Long produced 252 tackles, 40 tackles for losses and 14 sacks in one of the most productive careers for a WVU linebacker.
Long played outside linebacker at WVU but is projected as an inside linebacker in the NFL.
The five players chosen this year represent the most since 2016 when five players were also taken. Six West Virginia players were drafted in 1999 – the most since the draft was pared to seven rounds in 1994.
WVU was hopeful of equaling that, but two-time All-Big 12 wide receiver
David Sills V wasn't selected. He will now entertain offers and look for the best situation as a free agent.
