Collegiate Times

Every college student dreams of finding a job once school is over. However, only a select few had the chance to have their dreams fulfilled by being selected in the 2011 NFL Draft.

Three former Virginia Tech student athletes heard their names called this past weekend at Radio City Music Hall in New York City for the draft.

Running back Ryan Williams was selected early in the second round, as the Arizona Cardinals took the redshirt sophomore with the 38th overall pick.

Additionally, redshirt senior cornerback Rashad Carmichael was taken 127th by the Houston Texans, and senior quarterback Tyrod Taylor was selected with the 180th pick by the Baltimore Ravens.

Although Williams had hopes of being selected in the first round, he was still overcome with emotion when he heard his name called in the second round.

“This is the only thing that I have ever wanted to do in my whole life, and I have an opportunity to do it, so everything just came out,” Williams said in an interview with Kyle Tucker of the Virginian-Pilot. “Those are all the emotions from since I was seven, eight years old when I had it planned out that I wanted to be in the NFL. So that was it right there.”

The Cardinals used a first-round draft pick to select running back Beanie Wells two years ago, so Williams will face stiff competition at the position as he joins the team.

Carmichael will likely face less competition, as he joins a Texans defense that ranked third to last in the league last season. However, questions remain over what position he’ll play.

“I play football. Special teams, kick return, anything. Whatever the coach needs me to do,” Carmichael said in an interview with Tucker. “That’s how I was raised growing up, but definitely that cornerback position (is where I want to play). If they think I can work out at safety, I’m going to put my best foot forward, too.”

The Texans already employ a pair of former Hokies — offensive tackle Duane Brown and linebacker Xaiver Adibi — so Carmichael will have some familiar faces to look up to when he joins the team.

Taylor suffered one of the steeper slides of any player, as initial projections suggested he would be picked in the third or fourth rounds, but 10 quarterbacks were taken ahead of him as he fell to the sixth round.

Despite his drop down the draft board, Taylor remains confident in his abilities.

“I believe I’m the most dynamic quarterback in the draft,” Taylor said in his interview with Tucker. “I have the ability to move the pocket and keep the play alive, and I also have the ability to stay in the pocket and make every throw that they ask for.” 

Several other former Hokies, including running back Darren Evans, tight end Andre Smith, defensive end Steven Friday and defensive tackle John Graves, all waited to hear their names called during the draft but were not selected.

While these players would ordinarily be able to sign as undrafted free agents with teams immediately following the draft, the conditions of the NFL lockout prevent them from doing so until the league opens for business once more.

Nevertheless, Evans has been confident in his ability to play at the professional level since he declared for the draft in January and is taking the latest setback in stride.

“I see the opportunity that is there for me,” Evans said in an interview with Tucker. “I know there’s people around the league that think highly of me.”

A version of this article appeared in the May 3 issue of the Collegiate Times.