Photo by: Caleb Saunders
Five Mountaineer Gridders Land With NFL Teams
May 04, 2021 01:05 PM | Football
MORGANTOWN, W.Va. – Four West Virginia University football players have signed free agent rookie contracts following this year's NFL Draft, which concluded last Saturday afternoon.
According to published reports, consensus All-American defensive tackle Darius Stills signed with the Las Vegas Raiders, wide receiver T.J. Simmons signed with the defending world champion Tampa Bay Buccaneers, offensive guard Michael Brown signed with the New Orleans Saints and long snapper Kyle Poland signed yesterday with the Houston Texans.
Additionally, center Chase Behrndt was invited to participate in a rookie tryout with the Pittsburgh Steelers.
Stills slipping through the draft to rookie free agent status is surprising to WVU onlookers, who watched him dominate Big 12 play the last two seasons.
He was the No. 144-rated prospect by CBS Sports, which is good enough to go in the sixth round. However, not being drafted might have been to Stills' advantage because it gave his management team the ability to research the teams best suited for his his talents.
Despite drawing constant double teams his last two seasons at WVU, Darius still managed to generate 22 tackles for loss and 10 ½ sacks in 22 games. His four-year totals include 25 ½ tackles for loss and 11 ½ sacks.
Simmons caught 23 passes for 401 yards and four touchdowns, averaging 17.4 yards per catch during his senior season in 2020. The former Alabama transfer caught a career-high 35 passes for 455 yards and four scores during his junior year in 2019.
Brown, an Eastern Arizona College transfer from Compton, California, was an All-Big 12 Conference second team choice in 2020 who earned an invitation to play in this year's Hula Bowl. He started all 10 games last season at right guard and appeared in 21 career games for the Mountaineers.
Poland, a Morgantown High graduate, became the team's starting long snapper during his senior season in 2020 and went on to earn Special Teams U All-America second team honors. He was also an Academic All-Big 12 First Team choice.
Behrndt was a two-year starter and three-year lettermen. The Wildwood, Missouri, resident made three starts during his sophomore year in 2018 before becoming a regular on the offensive line in 2019.
In 2020, Behrndt made the switch from offensive guard to center where he earned All-Big 12 Honorable Mention honors. His WVU career included 33 games and 22 starts.
Last Saturday, Linebacker Tony Fields II extended West Virginia's streak of having at least one player drafted since 2008 when he was taken in the fifth round by the Cleveland Browns. It's the second-longest streak in the Big 12 and the 18th-longest streak in the country.
According to published reports, consensus All-American defensive tackle Darius Stills signed with the Las Vegas Raiders, wide receiver T.J. Simmons signed with the defending world champion Tampa Bay Buccaneers, offensive guard Michael Brown signed with the New Orleans Saints and long snapper Kyle Poland signed yesterday with the Houston Texans.
Additionally, center Chase Behrndt was invited to participate in a rookie tryout with the Pittsburgh Steelers.Stills slipping through the draft to rookie free agent status is surprising to WVU onlookers, who watched him dominate Big 12 play the last two seasons.
He was the No. 144-rated prospect by CBS Sports, which is good enough to go in the sixth round. However, not being drafted might have been to Stills' advantage because it gave his management team the ability to research the teams best suited for his his talents.
Despite drawing constant double teams his last two seasons at WVU, Darius still managed to generate 22 tackles for loss and 10 ½ sacks in 22 games. His four-year totals include 25 ½ tackles for loss and 11 ½ sacks.
Simmons caught 23 passes for 401 yards and four touchdowns, averaging 17.4 yards per catch during his senior season in 2020. The former Alabama transfer caught a career-high 35 passes for 455 yards and four scores during his junior year in 2019.
Brown, an Eastern Arizona College transfer from Compton, California, was an All-Big 12 Conference second team choice in 2020 who earned an invitation to play in this year's Hula Bowl. He started all 10 games last season at right guard and appeared in 21 career games for the Mountaineers.
Poland, a Morgantown High graduate, became the team's starting long snapper during his senior season in 2020 and went on to earn Special Teams U All-America second team honors. He was also an Academic All-Big 12 First Team choice.Behrndt was a two-year starter and three-year lettermen. The Wildwood, Missouri, resident made three starts during his sophomore year in 2018 before becoming a regular on the offensive line in 2019.
In 2020, Behrndt made the switch from offensive guard to center where he earned All-Big 12 Honorable Mention honors. His WVU career included 33 games and 22 starts.
Last Saturday, Linebacker Tony Fields II extended West Virginia's streak of having at least one player drafted since 2008 when he was taken in the fifth round by the Cleveland Browns. It's the second-longest streak in the Big 12 and the 18th-longest streak in the country.
Players Mentioned
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