NEW YORK - At long last, the wait is over for former Boston College football stars Matt Ryan and Gosder Cherilus.
The 2007 ACC Player of the Year made BC football history as the highest -drafted player ever, selected No. 3 overall by the Atlanta Falcons at the 2008 NFL draft on Saturday. The selection also makes him the first top-10 draftee since linebacker Mike Mamula was selected seventh in 1995. Ryan joins elite company in being only the fifth Eagle ever to be chosen in the top 10.
Although Ryan justifiably received a majority of draft-day attention, the achievement of his chief protector should not go without mention. A projected late-first or early second-round pick, Cherilus was selected 17th overall by the Detroit Lions. He becomes the highest-selected BC lineman since Damien Woody was picked 17th by the Patriots in 1999, a tremendous accomplishment given the number of gifted linemen who pass through BC's program.
The Lions targeted Cherilus from the beginning. His size, instincts, and durability - evidenced by his record 51 straight starts at the Heights - should serve the former captain well in the pros.
Ryan, one of only six players invited to the draft, spent his whirlwind of a day in familiar form: cool and confident, while taking the imminent future in stride.
In the weeks leading up to the draft, some predicted him to go No. 1 overall by the Miami Dolphins, while other experts forecasted the former Heisman Trophy candidate to fall as low as No. 8, becoming a Baltimore Raven. Thankfully for Ryan, his time in the green room elapsed quickly.
Over the past few months, Falcons owner Arthur Blank closely observed Matt Ryan at the NFL combine in Indianapolis. He also flew up to Boston to watch Ryan in a private workout and evaluated his character over dinner. Ryan did not have a clear idea as to where he would begin his pro career until Saturday, though, when Blank called with the good news.
As a wide-eyed, eager, and visibly relieved Ryan sat in his press conference, he demonstrated the poise that helped him pass for 9,313 yards over his college career. Realizing the insurmountable amount of external pressure on his shoulders, Ryan emphasized the importance of not worrying about circumstances outside of his control.
2008 Woodie Awards
