WVSports.com: WVU 2017 Draft Weekend Rewind
The 2017 NFL Draft has now come and gone and WVSports.com takes a look at the players selected as well as where the undrafted free agents signed contracts.
Those Drafted:
West Virginia continued its run of success under head coach Dana Holgorsen as the Mountaineers had two players selected in the draft with both cornerback Rasul Douglas and wide receiver Shelton Gibson being selected by the Philadelphia Eagles.
Those two make 19 total West Virginia players selected in the draft since Holgorsen took over the reins of the program and 10 of those have come in the first three rounds. Compared to the six years prior, the Mountaineers had 12 players drafted with only two of those coming in the first three rounds.
Cornerback Rasul Douglas selected in the third round, 99th overall.
The cornerback will enter a situation in Philadelphia where he will be able to compete for time immediately on the outside. An aggressive cornerback that has plus ball skills, his size will allow him to compete against many of the bigger wide receivers he will see on a week-to-week basis in the NFL. While he might face some challenges with the speed of some wide receivers at the next level, his physical nature of play and long arms will allow him to slow them down and put himself in a good position. He finished last season with eight interceptions at West Virginia, good enough for second all-time in a single season, and his overall skill set should translate well to the next level.
Wide receiver Shelton Gibson selected in the fifth round, 166th overall.
Unlike Douglas, Gibson elected to forego his final year of college eligiblity and enter the NFL Draft where he was selected by the Eagles. He will enter a situation with a crowded wide receiver room after Philadelphia addressed the position in free agency this past off-season signing Alshon Jeffery and Torrey Smith, but his playmaking ability could get him on the field in a variety of ways. A deep-ball specialist, Gibson excels at getting behind defenses and then adjusting to the ball and making the catch. According to one report, Gibson did not drop a single deep ball last season. While still growing in his overall route tree, the playmaker has excellent football speed that translates on the field. Even in a crowded wide receiver room there is a place for a burner that can stretch the defense. A future on special teams returning kicks also could be in line.
Undrafted Free Agent Signings:
Center Tyler Orlosky - Philadelphia Eagles
Defensive lineman Noble Nwachukwu - San Francisco 49ers
Wide receiver Daikiel Shorts - Buffalo Bills
Cornerback Maurice Fleming - Tampa Bay Buccaneers
Running back Rushel Shell - Pittsburgh Steelers
Defensive lineman Christian Brown - Pittsburgh Steelers
Defensive lineman Darrien Howard - Arizona Cardinals
Safety Jeremy Tyler - Buffalo Bills
Quarterback Skyler Howard - Seattle Seahawks
Offensive lineman Adam Pankey - Green Bay Packers