Four Red Raiders Take Next Step To NFL Dreams
Every little kid who plays football in the front yard dreams of playing in the NFL one day. As those kids get older that dream either fades, along with their athletic prowess, or intensifies as they improve and play at advancing levels. Once those kids get into big-time college football that dream reaches new heights, and for the lucky few, that dream becomes a reality.
Four Texas Tech student-athletes took another step toward the dream of playing in the NFL by getting onto teams in the League. Two Red Raiders heard their name called during the draft, while two others got the call as undrafted free agents.
Both Zech McPhearson and Jack Anderson had their names called on the final day of the NFL Draft Saturday with McPhearson going to the Philadelphia Eagles in the fourth round and Anderson three rounds later to the Buffalo Bills.
McPhearson was the first Red Raider defensive back to be drafted in the top four rounds since Darcel McBath was chosen by the Denver Broncos in the second round back in 2009.
"The board fell – the way that fell to us was outstanding, and exciting how it came to be. We like him, his versatility, ability to play outside, his ability to play inside, his ball skills, football intelligence." Said the Eagles vice president of Personnel. "He's a team captain. He's a guy we got on (Southwest Area Scout) Shawn Heinlen, does an excellent job mining the information on Zech and really brought him to the surface with us."
Anderson was the Buffalo Bills' final pick of their draft as a seventh-round selection. Anderson joins fellow Red Raider Davis Webb in Buffalo. Webb is currently a backup quarterback and a vital member of the organization.
Texas Tech offensive lineman have had some recent success in the NFL with undrafted free agent Terence Steele starting several games for the Dallas Cowboys last season and LaAdrian Waddle and Luis Vasquez locking in multiple Super Bowl Rings in the past decade.
The Bills chose Anderson because of his versatility along the inside of the offensive line with the ability to play both guard positions and center.
In addition to the selection of both Anderson and McPhearson, defensive lineman Eli Howard has signed a free-agent agreement with the Atlanta Falcons, while wide receiver T.J. Vasher agreed to join the Dallas Cowboys.
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