NFL draft picks show joy in myriad ways after big weekend


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SALT LAKE CITY — More than 250 college athletes heard their names called during the three-day, seven-round NFL draft this past weekend.

And each one had their own unique response.

Southern Utah defensive backs Miles Killebrew and LeShaun Sims, for example, were getting ready to graduate in Cedar City. Killebrew was in his cap and gown and leaving for the ceremony when the Detroit Lions called his cellphone, and he rushed to put on a Lions hat as he walked across the stage to receive his diploma.

"I froze for a second, kind of like a deer in headlights when I saw the phone ringing," Killebrew told the Associated Press. "I'm still kind of geeking out about it a little bit here in the car. … I'm on cloud nine."

That’s a little more even-keeled than former Arizona linebacker Scooby Wright, who celebrated his far-too-lengthy wait into the Cleveland Browns’ seventh round by going for a dip in the pool — fully clothed.

Fortunately for Utah State linebacker Kyler Fackrell, he didn’t have to wait until Saturday to hear his name called. The former Aggie standout was drafted in subsequent picks with teammate Nick Vigil in the third round Friday night.

Not so fortunate for his daughter Delaney, whose parents had already put her down for the night, however.

“I was very emotional, and we were both very, very excited to be Packers,” Fackrell said of he and his wife’s reactions.

But the toddler fell out of her bed during the call, and celebrated her father’s accomplishment with some crying of her own.

“She woke up a little on the wrong side,” Fackrell joked.

Vigil nearly missed his chance when the Cincinnati Bengals called his cellphone. Nervous and excited as he watched the draft with his family and about two dozen people, Vigil tried to answer his phone — only to have the call vanish in a dropped connection.

“It’s a good thing my mom had her phone on her,” Vigil said. “They ended up calling her, and she handed me the phone.

“It was pure excitement.”

Bengals head coach Marvin Lewis admitted the team didn’t know much about Vigil during his three-year tenure at Utah State. But after linebackers coach Jim Haslett visited Logan for pro day, the coaching staff knew it was interested in the running back/linebacker hybrid from Fremont High.

“We don’t have to have much, other than that,” Lewis said. “He was a pretty clean prospect with everything else that way. We didn’t have to do any other work on him.”

Vigil said he had little challenge in adapting to Cincinnati, the city or the organization under Lewis and his staff.

“The culture here is fantastic,” he said. “They’ve won consistently over the past couple of years, and have a great foundation set by the coaches and ownership.

“I couldn’t ask for a better place to go.”

Photo: Scott G Winterton, Deseret News
Photo: Scott G Winterton, Deseret News

When the Baltimore Ravens selected former BYU defensive end Bronson Kaufusi in the third round, the former Timpview High standout said his mom “probably screamed the loudest” at his family gathering.

No, maybe it was his sister who was the loudest. On the other hand: it was definitely younger brother Corbin, who plays basketball at BYU and will suit up in football this fall.

Mostly, though, they were excited for him to join an organization that features familiar faces like fellow BYU alums Dennis Pitta and De’Ondre Wesley, as well as former Utes Steve Smith Jr. and Eric Weddle.

“I’m so excited,” Kaufusi said. “I just can’t wait to get to work and get out there.

“I’ve watched Baltimore play; I watch them every NFL season.”

Follow the link to find out where other local college football players will begin their NFL careers.

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