Estimated read time: 3-4 minutes
This archived news story is available only for your personal, non-commercial use. Information in the story may be outdated or superseded by additional information. Reading or replaying the story in its archived form does not constitute a republication of the story.
DRAFT NIGHT — In case you hid from all sports media coverage this weekend, the 2016 NFL Draft went off in Chicago with all seven rounds of NFL prospects going to various teams.
Some of the top talent hears its name called in the draft’s first three rounds, which are broadcast Thursday and Friday.
But some of the best stories? Those coming during the final two rounds.
Here are some of our favorite moments from the weekend.
From Unicorn to Viking
Moritz Boehringer grew up in soccer-mad Germany, but found a highlight reel of Minnesota running back Adrian Peterson on YouTube when he was 17, igniting a love of American footbal, and he starred as wide receiver for the Schwabisch Hall Unicorns in the German Football League. Boehringer hauled in 59 receptions for 1,232 yards and 13 touchdowns in 16 games with the Unicorns.
The 6-foot-4, 227-pound wideout made his way to Chicago for the draft and made an appearance on NFL Network’s all-day draft coverage. He impressed analyst Mike Mayock enough to call good friend and Vikings head coach Mike Zimmer, and the endorsement worked.
The Vikings drafted Boehringer in the fifth round, No. 180 overall — the first-ever draft pick from the German Football League.
"That made my whole weekend!" - @MikeMayock Welcome to the Family, @MoBoehringer! #NFLDrafthttps://t.co/tJsWpBFcpQ — NFL (@NFL) May 1, 2016
To serve and protect ====================
Keenan Reynolds enrolled at the U.S. Naval Academy with thoughts of serving his country.
He left Navy as the NCAA’s all-time leader with 88 touchdowns and an FBS-record 4,559 rushing yards, earning him a sixth-round selection by the Baltimore Ravens.
Reynolds, who is likely to play receiver in the NFL, has a five-year contract to serve in the Navy, just like all academy graduates.
Recent draft picks have seen an increased flexibility from the U.S. Department of Defense to be able to serve their country and play professional sports, as well. Last year, New England long snapper Joe Cardona played a full season before reporting for active duty, and former Spurs big man David robinson had a brilliant NBA career while also serving in the Navy.
Cowboys tap Baylor … basketball
After reaching into the first round to snatch up Ohio State running back Ezekial Elliott, the Dallas Cowboys used a sixth-round pick to snatch up Rico Gathers from Baylor.
Art Briles’ program has sent plenty of players to the NFL, but Gathers never played for Briles. He was a Baylor basketball standout and hasn’t played football since he was 13.
But how many NFL tight ends can throw down a windmill dunk?
100-year-old woman sets world record
We exit with a world record set at Saturday’s Penn Relays, but not by any collegians in the world’s oldest outdoor track and field meet.
Ida Keeling reported to the starting line for the Masters 80-and-over 100-meter dash. And though she didn’t win the event, her time of 1 minute, 17.33 seconds was enough to earn her the world record for fastest dash by a person 100 years old and older. She already owned the fastest time in the 95- to 100-year-old category in the same event, too.
Saturday’s mixed-gender race was hardly a fair fight, either. Keeling was competing against spry youngsters like 99-year-old Champ Goldie and 88-year-old Ed Cox, who won the event in 17.85 seconds.
But Keeling took it in stride, even dishing out some advice after the race.
"Love yourself,” said Keeling, just a few weeks shy of 101. “Do what you have to do and what you love to do. Eat for nutrition, not for taste. And exercise at least once a day.”
