Locals Julie'n Davenport and Nate Hairston selected in the NFL draft
Davenport, from Paulsboro High, went to Houston, and Hairston, from Temple, went to Indianapolis.
Two players with local ties were drafted in the fourth and fifth rounds, respectively, during the completion of the three-day NFL draft Saturday.
Bucknell offensive tackle Julie'n Davenport, a graduate of Paulsboro High, was selected in the fourth round by the Houston Texans. The 6-foot-7, 318-pound Davenport was the 130th overall selection.
Temple cornerback Nate Hairston was drafted in the fifth round by the Indianapolis Colts, the 158th overall selection.
Villanova tackle Brad Seaton was taken in the seventh round by the Tennesse Titans, the 236th overall selection.
Davenport was listed in several mock drafts as a potential second- or third-round selection. When asked if he was disappointed that he went in the fourth round, the former high school football and basketball star was diplomatic.
"I definitely wanted to have my name called," he said in a phone interview. "I feel fortunate to have my name called."
Hairston didn't hide his disappointment.
"I thought I would go in the fourth round," Hairston said in a phone interview.
Davenport started all 44 games and was named a first-team all-American by four organizations.
"It was definitely stressful waiting for my name to be called," he said. "I am happy to be going to Houston."
Davenport, who will earn his degree this spring in political science, said he had a private workout with the Texans. He went through about 15 workouts for NFL teams, all at Bucknell.
"They definitely showed interest," he said.
Hairston (6-0, 196), from Frederick, Md., is a converted wide receiver and played cornerback for only two seasons. Last season was his first as a full-time starter, and he had two interceptions and three pass breakups.
Hairston said he had six workouts with NFL teams, but the Colts weren't one of them. Still, Hairston said he wasn't surprised to be drafted by Indianapolis.
"I heard a lot from them in the process," said Hairston, who earned his degree in communications. "Plus their linebacker coach was the defensive coordinator at the Shrine game."
Hairston was referring to Colts outside-linebackers coach Brad White and the East-West Shrine game, which was played in St. Petersburg, Fla.
He became the third Temple player selected in this draft, after linebacker Haason Reddick went 13th in the first round to Arizona and offensive lineman Dion Dawkins was taken 63rd in the second round by Buffalo.
Dawkins was the second-to-last player selected in the second round Friday night. He had been projected to go a little higher in the second round, and Dawkins said it was excruciating waiting to hear his name called.
"I was a nervous wreck," Dawkins said while watching the draft Saturday afternoon. "Once I got that call, my entire day got brighter."
Seaton is a 6-8, 325-pound tackle from the Bronx who went to the Main Line after spending a season at the Brunswick School (Conn.). He redshirted as a freshman and missed the last nine games two years ago after suffering a knew injury. He didn't start playing until his junior year at Fordham Prep and has put on 75 pounds in college.
"He and Tanoh were both very raw coming in," Villanova coach Mark Ferrante said, referring to Tanoh Kpassagnon, who was taken in the second round by Kansas City. "Brad's definitely a late bloomer."
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Staff writer Mike Kern contributed to the article.