Eastern Michigan Athletics
EMU Standouts Hope to Hear Their Names Called at NFL Draft
4/25/2024 10:00:00 AM | Football
In 2023, Eastern Michigan had multiple players drafted for the first time since 1977
DETROIT, Mich. (EMUEagles.com) – "With the next pick in the 2024 NFL Draft..." Those nine words are what several Eastern Michigan University football standouts are hoping to hear this weekend as the National Football League holds its annual draft at Campus Martius in downtown Detroit, April 25-27, 2024.
Steve Bird (Phoenix, Ariz./Sandra Day O'Connor), Londyn Craft (Rio Rancho, N.M./IMG Academy/Mississippi State/Kentucky), Brian Dooley (Bowling Green, Ohio/Toledo St. John's Jesuit), Hamze El-Zayat (Dearborn, Mich./Fordson/Fordham), Samson Evans (Crystal Lake, Ill./Prairie Ridge/Iowa), Adrian Gonzalez (Leon, Mexico/Liceo Cancun), Chase Kline (Chardon, Ohio/Chardon/Michigan State), Tanner Knue (Mason, Ohio/Mason), and Joe Sparacio (Naples, Fla./First Baptist Academy/Boston College) hold out hopes of receiving that Draft Day phone call.
Fans can watch the NFL Draft on NFL Network, ABC, ESPN, and ESPN Deportes. Thursday, April 25, coverage begins at 8 p.m. ET for round one selections. Rounds two and three take place Friday, April 26, beginning at 7 p.m. ET. The event concludes Saturday, April 27, with rounds four through seven starting at 12 p.m. ET.
Eastern Michigan has had 31 student-athletes picked in the NFL Draft since 1955. Last year, offensive lineman Sidy Sow was selected by the New England Patriots in the fourth round (117th overall), while defensive end Jose Ramirez was selected by the Tampa Bay Buccaneers in the sixth round (196th overall).
The duo marked the first time in 46 years that multiple EMU players have been drafted in the same season. That year, Mark Carter went to the Miami Dolphins in the 10th Round (264 overall) and Jim Stansik headed to the San Diego Chargers in the 12th Round (319 overall). Sow and Ramirez joined former kicker Chad Ryland, who was selected by the Patriots. Ryland was selected five picks ahead of Sow by New England with the 112th overall pick.
Five EMU players have heard their names called during Head Coach Chris Creighton's tenure with Darius Jackson (2016), Pat O'Connor (2017), Maxx Crosby (2019), Sow (2023), and Ramirez (2023) each making a splash in the professional ranks.
EMU football has a long connection to the NFL and the 2024 season only deepened those bonds.
Come out and celebrate a full "Eastern" night in the Motor City to kick off Round 1 of the NFL Draft. Eastern Athletics is taking over Eastern Market Brewing Company (2515 Riopelle St, Detroit, MI 48207) for a Pre-Draft Party on Thursday, April 25. Free to attend and starting at 5 p.m., enjoy the best of EMBC and hang out with your Eastern Michigan friends, family, and alumni.
EMU's National Football League Draft Choices
NFL Draft Picks Under Chris Creighton (5)
Jose Ramirez - 2023
Sidy Sow - 2023
Maxx Crosby - 2019
Pat O'Connor - 2017
Darius Jackson - 2016
NFL Free Agent Signees/Mini-camp Invites Under Chris Creighton (26)
Dylan Drummond - 2023
Taylor Powell - 2023
Gunnar Oakes - 2023
Hassan Beydoun- 2023
Thomas Odukoya - 2022
Jake Julien - 2022
Mathew Sexton - 2021
Kevin McGill - 2020
Steven Nielsen - 2020
Jeremiah Harris - 2019
Blake Banham - 2019
Ka'John Armstrong - 2019
Sergio Bailey II - 2018
Juan Giraldo - 2018
Brogan Roback - 2018
Ike Spearman - 2018
Andrew Wylie - 2017
Cole Gardner - 2017
DaQuan Pace - 2017
Clay Dawson - 2016
Rob Bolden - 2015
Willie Creear - 2015
Lincoln Hansen - 2015
Bronson Hill - 2015
Kevin Johnson - 2015
Tyreese Russell - 2015
Steve Bird (Phoenix, Ariz./Sandra Day O'Connor), Londyn Craft (Rio Rancho, N.M./IMG Academy/Mississippi State/Kentucky), Brian Dooley (Bowling Green, Ohio/Toledo St. John's Jesuit), Hamze El-Zayat (Dearborn, Mich./Fordson/Fordham), Samson Evans (Crystal Lake, Ill./Prairie Ridge/Iowa), Adrian Gonzalez (Leon, Mexico/Liceo Cancun), Chase Kline (Chardon, Ohio/Chardon/Michigan State), Tanner Knue (Mason, Ohio/Mason), and Joe Sparacio (Naples, Fla./First Baptist Academy/Boston College) hold out hopes of receiving that Draft Day phone call.
Fans can watch the NFL Draft on NFL Network, ABC, ESPN, and ESPN Deportes. Thursday, April 25, coverage begins at 8 p.m. ET for round one selections. Rounds two and three take place Friday, April 26, beginning at 7 p.m. ET. The event concludes Saturday, April 27, with rounds four through seven starting at 12 p.m. ET.
Eastern Michigan has had 31 student-athletes picked in the NFL Draft since 1955. Last year, offensive lineman Sidy Sow was selected by the New England Patriots in the fourth round (117th overall), while defensive end Jose Ramirez was selected by the Tampa Bay Buccaneers in the sixth round (196th overall).
The duo marked the first time in 46 years that multiple EMU players have been drafted in the same season. That year, Mark Carter went to the Miami Dolphins in the 10th Round (264 overall) and Jim Stansik headed to the San Diego Chargers in the 12th Round (319 overall). Sow and Ramirez joined former kicker Chad Ryland, who was selected by the Patriots. Ryland was selected five picks ahead of Sow by New England with the 112th overall pick.
Five EMU players have heard their names called during Head Coach Chris Creighton's tenure with Darius Jackson (2016), Pat O'Connor (2017), Maxx Crosby (2019), Sow (2023), and Ramirez (2023) each making a splash in the professional ranks.
EMU football has a long connection to the NFL and the 2024 season only deepened those bonds.
Come out and celebrate a full "Eastern" night in the Motor City to kick off Round 1 of the NFL Draft. Eastern Athletics is taking over Eastern Market Brewing Company (2515 Riopelle St, Detroit, MI 48207) for a Pre-Draft Party on Thursday, April 25. Free to attend and starting at 5 p.m., enjoy the best of EMBC and hang out with your Eastern Michigan friends, family, and alumni.
EMU's National Football League Draft Choices
| Year | Round | Pick | Overall | Player | Team | Position |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1955 | 21 | 2 | 243 | Nick Manych | Baltimore Colts | E |
| 1967 | 13 | 13 | 328 | Robert Rodwell | Washington Redskins | LB |
| 1970 | 14 | 15 | 353 | Bob Lints | Green Bay Packers | G |
| 1971 | 3 | 20 | 72 | Al Clark | Detroit Lions | DB |
| 1972 | 6 | 12 | 142 | Dave Pureifory | Green Bay Packers | LB |
| 7 | 14 | 170 | Will Foster | Philadelphia Eagles | LB | |
| 8 | 14 | 196 | Larry Ratcliff | Philadelphia Eagles | RB | |
| 13 | 13 | 325 | Sam Elmore | New England Patriots | DB | |
| 1973 | 7 | 11 | 167 | Bill DuLac | Los Angeles Rams | G |
| 10 | 26 | 260 | Ron Fernandez | Miami Dolphins | DE | |
| 1974 | 6 | 2 | 132 | Jim Pietrzak | New York Giants | T |
| 11 | 25 | 285 | Dave Boone | Minnesota Vikings | DE | |
| 13 | 21 | 333 | Frank Kolch | Pittsburgh Steelers | QB | |
| 1975 | 14 | 25 | 363 | Mike Strickland | Minnesota Vikings | RB |
| 1976 | 7 | 22 | 204 | Clarence Chapman | Oakland Raiders | WR |
| 1977 | 10 | 13 | 264 | Mark Carter | Miami Dolphins | TE |
| 12 | 12 | 319 | Jim Stansik | San Diego Chargers | TE | |
| 1978 | 1 | 22 | 22 | Ron Johnson | Pittsburgh Steelers | DB |
| 1981 | 7 | 25 | 191 | Ken Miller | Dallas Cowboys | DB |
| 1988 | 7 | 7 | 172 | Gary Patton | New York Jets | RB |
| 1998 | 2 | 30 | 60 | Charlie Batch | Detroit Lions | QB |
| 1999 | 1 | 21 | 21 | L. J. Shelton | Arizona Cardinals | T |
| 2003 | 7 | 41 | 255 | Kevin Walter | New York Giants | WR |
| 2005 | 7 | 23 | 237 | Chris R. Roberson | Jacksonville Jaguars | DB |
| 2008 | 2 | 23 | 54 | Jason Jones | Tennessee Titans | DE |
| 2009 | 4 | 9 | 109 | T. J. Lang | Green Bay Packers | T |
| 2016 | 6 | 41 | 216 | Darius Jackson | Dallas Cowboys | RB |
| 2017 | 7 | 32 | 250 | Pat O'Connor | Detroit Lions | DE |
| 2019 | 4 | 4 | 106 | Maxx Crosby | Oakland Raiders | DE |
| 2023 | 4 | 15 | 115 | Sidy Sow | New England Patriots | G |
| 6 | 19 | 196 | Jose Ramirez | Tampa Bay Buccaneers | E |
NFL Draft Picks Under Chris Creighton (5)
Jose Ramirez - 2023
Sidy Sow - 2023
Maxx Crosby - 2019
Pat O'Connor - 2017
Darius Jackson - 2016
NFL Free Agent Signees/Mini-camp Invites Under Chris Creighton (26)
Dylan Drummond - 2023
Taylor Powell - 2023
Gunnar Oakes - 2023
Hassan Beydoun- 2023
Thomas Odukoya - 2022
Jake Julien - 2022
Mathew Sexton - 2021
Kevin McGill - 2020
Steven Nielsen - 2020
Jeremiah Harris - 2019
Blake Banham - 2019
Ka'John Armstrong - 2019
Sergio Bailey II - 2018
Juan Giraldo - 2018
Brogan Roback - 2018
Ike Spearman - 2018
Andrew Wylie - 2017
Cole Gardner - 2017
DaQuan Pace - 2017
Clay Dawson - 2016
Rob Bolden - 2015
Willie Creear - 2015
Lincoln Hansen - 2015
Bronson Hill - 2015
Kevin Johnson - 2015
Tyreese Russell - 2015
Players Mentioned
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