San Diego College Stars Taken in NFL Draft

Three Aztecs and a Torero were selected on Saturday

It took a while to hear the name of a San Diego collegian in the NFL Draft but once we did they flew off the board in a hurry.

In the 4th round the Baltimore Ravens took offensive guard Nico Siragusa with the 122nd overall pick. Siragusa was a 2-time All-Mountain West Conference selection and a big reason the Aztecs became the first team in major college football history to have a 2,000-yard rusher (Donnel Pumphrey) and a 1,000-yard rusher (Rashaad Penny) in the same season.

Just 10 picks later Pumphrey heard his name called. The NCAA’s all-time leading rusher was selected 132nd overall by the Philadelphia Eagles, an interesting choice since Philly already has undersized yet explosive running back Darren Sproles on the roster. Sproles is entering the final year of his contract and should serve as a mentor for the Aztecs star.

Pumphrey is a 2-time Mountain West Conference Offensive Player of the Year. He finished his career on Montezuma Mesa ranked fifth in NCAA FBS history in all-purpose yards (7,515), tied for eighth in overall touchdowns (67) and ninth in rushing touchdowns (62).

In the 5th round the defending NFC champion Atlanta Falcons grabbed SDSU defensive back Damontae Kazee with the 149th overall selection. Kazee won a pair of Mountain West Conference Defensive Player of the Year awards and set a program record for career interceptions (17).

While the Aztecs really went to the birds the University of San Diego was also represented. Defensive back Jamal Agnew was taken in the 5th round (165th overall) by the Detroit Lions. Agnew is a 2-time team MVP and the Toreros all-time leader in interceptions (11) and pass breakups (48).

Agnew has tremendous speed, clocking a pair of sub-4.4 times in the 40-yard dash, and is a dangerous punt returner. He took a punt back 63 yards for a touchdown against Valparaiso.

There will be a few more Aztecs in NFL training camps this summer after signing as undrafted free agents. Offensive tackle Kwayde Miller will meet Siragusa in Baltimore; defensive end Alex Barrett will join Agnew in Detroit; linebacker Calvin Munson signed with the New York Giants; and safety Malik Smith is heading to the Houston Texans.

Contact Us