Locals Reach The NFL
Four seasons on the high school gridiron. Three or four in college. Enough tackles, touchdowns, yardage, receptions, and interceptions to jam a statbook.
They'd done all they could do. And as they watched the NFL draft over the last weekend in April, a few young local football stars hoped that it would be just enough to realize the dream of every youth who'd ever slipped on a pair of pads.
From Virginia Beach to Newport News, South Hampton Roads footballers waited to see their name run across the bottom of the draft on ESPN's telecast, or for their cell phones to ring with news that they'd been chosen.
Three years after his career at Hampton's Kecoughtan High ended, Jerod Mayo had staked his claim to one of the nation's finest linebacking ranks at Tennessee, and mock drafts in the weeks leading up to the event had all but assumed he'd find an NFL spot.
But few outside of the NFL knew just how high Mayo would go - just 10 picks in, the phone rang at his Hampton home. Outside on the porch with his mother, Mayo picked it up, and learned that he'd be the newest member of the vaunted New England defense, which has helped the Patriots to three Super Bowl victories (and one loss) in the past six years.
"I'm elated," said Mayo, who later signed a five-year, $18.9 million contract with the Patriots. "I'm ready to go in there and play some football. It feels good going into a winning situation. They've got great coaches, great linebackers, and I'm going into the situation looking to learn as much as I can."
He'd be the only local taken on the first day of the draft. But there were still five rounds to go on April 27 - and area fans wouldn't have to wait long to see some familiar faces.
Three picks into the third round, Hampton University's Kendall Langford, a native of Petersburg, went to Miami, where he'd join top overall pick Jake Long of Michigan on the Dolphin defense squad. Six choices later, Bethel High graduate and Virginia Tech-ian Chris Ellis was picked as the draft's 72nd entrant to play defensive end in Buffalo.
After watching fellow Hokie Xavier Adibi, a Hampton native, win a spot with Houston in the fourth round, Great Bridge product Carlton Powell wondered when his time would come.
"It was nerve-wracking, watching the first round and the second round," said Powell, surrounded by his family.
As the 148th pick came about, Denver prepared to make its choice. Then Powell got the call he'd been waiting for - and the party started in Chesapeake.
"Everybody cheered," said the new Bronco defensive tackle. "I was extremely excited. I feel extremely blessed. I'm glad they gave me a chance. I love the competition. I'll enjoy being there. I'm definitely going to compete for the starting job." Norfolk native Jack White, a graduate of Booker T. Washington High and Kent State cornerback, also won a draft spot with Denver.
As the day wound down, it appeared that some of the community kids would see their careers come to a premature end. Waiting with his own family in Hampton, D.J. Parker, who'd played safety with Adibi at Phoebus and Tech, didn't hear his name called as the draft made its way through the seventh and final round. Dallas had talked to him early in the day, but the Cowboys didn't have anymore picks in the round, and Tampa Bay, his longtime favorite squad, snatched up South Carolina running back Cory Boyd with its final selection.
Parker stepped outside with some of his family members. Then the phone in his pocket started playing some welcome ring tone music, soon to be followed by even more cheers.
"My agent told me that San Francisco called him and told him that they really loved me," a joyous Parker reported. "They didn't have a draft pick, but they wanted to sign me as a free agent."
Just about the same time, another Tech teammate of Parker, Chesapeake native Vince Hall, got a similar call from St. Louis. Hampton University alumnus Marcus Dixon got a free agent call from Dallas, and Salem grad Isaiah Gardner (Maryland) won a free agent spot with Jacksonville.
They're in good company - several current NFL fixtures, such as Adam Vinatieri, who kicked two Super Bowl-winning field goals for New England, Dallas quarterback Tony Romo, and former Super Bowl Most Valuable Player Kurt Warner all signed as free agents.
"I'll get a chance to get in there and go to camp, and be on the roster," Parker said. "I'm going to go there and just open some eyes. I'll play football; that's all I know how to do. It's been a dream for me since I've been a kid, and it's a dream come true. I'm going to be a 49er!"
