April 25, 2005
SAN DIEGO -
For the first time since 2002, three members of the <?xml:namespace prefix="st1" ns="urn:schemas-microsoft-com:office:smarttags"?>San Diego State football team have been selected in the National Football League Draft.
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Linebacker Matt McCoy was the first selection from Montezuma Mesa. He was taken by the Philadelphia Eagles in the second round (63rd pick) on Saturday. The Eagles are the reigning National Football Conference champions. McCoy becomes SDSU's first second-round pick since Chester Pitts was taken by the Houston Texans in 2002. Pitts went on to become a rookie starter in the offensive line for the expansion franchise.
McCoy is the first Aztec linebacker selected in the draft since James Johnson in 1985. He becomes the first Aztec drafted by the Eagles since Terrell Ward in 1980.
In the third round (pick 78), SDSU's Kirk Morrison was drafted by the Oakland Raiders. Morrison was born in Oakland and attended the city's Bishop O'Dowd High School. He will be reunited with former Aztec teammate Akbar Gbaja Biamila on the Raiders roster.
In the fourth round, Aztec safety Marviel Underwood was taken (pick 115) by the Green Bay Packers. He will become a teammate of another former Aztec, defensive end Kabeer Gbaja Biamila. Underwood will be joining previous Aztec safeties Roberth Griffith, Brian Russell and Will Demps in the NFL.
Several other Aztecs were expected to sign free agent contracts this week. The free agent route has led to successful careers for many former Aztecs, most recently safeties Demps and Russell and Chargers receiver Kassim Osgood.
Since 1988, San Diego has had 38 players drafted by the National Football League. That number is second only to Brigham Young's 41 picks among current Mountain West Conference schools.