Recordpub.com - Edelman realizes his NFL dream

Nobody wanted Julian Edelman four years ago when he graduated from high school and wanted a chance to play quarterback at the Division I level.

Kent State was one of the few teams to show an interest a year later after Edelman proved himself in junior college.

Now three years since his arrival in Kent, the Golden Flashes quarterback is about to start a professional career with the decade’s most dominant franchise.

Edelman was selected by the three-time Super Bowl champion New England Patriots with the 23rd pick of NFL Draft’s seventh round Sunday night.

“I’m thrilled for Julian,” said KSU head coach Doug Martin. “I’ve never been around anybody who is more competitive than Julian Edelman ...Nobody is more deserving of this opportunity.”

Even after a record-setting career at KSU, Edleman had a difficult time finding an agent to represent him. He ended up signing with Martin’s agent, Don Yee, who also reps Patriots star quarterback Tom Brady.

Edelman probably won’t be a back-up to Brady in New England. The Patriots drafted Edelman believing he can follow in the footsteps of fellow former Flashes quarterback Joshua Cribbs and make the switch from college quarterback to pro wide receiver and kick-return specialist.

“He may get a chance to play some quarterback in the Wildcat offense, but I know the Patriots like him as a slot receiver and kick-returner,” said Martin. “I think they compare him to Wes Welker.”

Smaller receivers like Welker have found plenty of success in the Patriots offensive system over the years. Welker, who is 5-foot-9 and 185 pounds, has averaged 111.5 catches in his first two seasons in New England. Troy Brown and David Patten also enjoyed some big seasons with the Patriots earlier in the decade, and they both stand 5-10.

Edelman was measured at 5-10 and 195 pounds during KSU’s pro day in early March. He ran a 3.91-second short shuttle and 10.74-second long shuttle that day, times that would have been better than any posted the previous month at the NFL Combine.

Those times combined with Edleman’s fearless running style as a quarterback at KSU encouraged several pro teams believing he could play receiver in the NFL. At least 16 clubs were believed to have Edelman on their radar this weekend.

“(Chicago Bears head coach) Lovie Smith and I coached together at East Carolina,” said Martin. “I know he liked Julian and they were going to try to draft him.”

The Bears had two picks after the Patriots in the seventh round (picks 37 and 42) and may have targeted Edelman in one of those spots.

NFL.com posted a positive review of the Edelman selection Sunday night, claiming “Edelman will function in the Wildcat formation for the Patriots. He was unbelievably productive as a college quarterback and can make the club as a specialist in certain packages. He’s an intriguing prospect for New England.”

In Usma Young, Jack Williams and Edelman, Kent State has now had a player selected in the last three NFL Drafts. Young was a third-round pick of the New Orleans Saints in 1985. The Denver Broncos selected Williams in the fourth round last year.

When you add in un-drafted free agents like Cribbs with the Cleveland Browns and 2008 NFL Defensive Player of the year James Harrison with the Pittsburgh Steelers, the Flashes are proving prospects can not only make it to the next level by playing Kent State, they can actually flourish at that next level.

“None of those guys were highly recruited, either” said Martin. “Usama had very few offers out of high school. Same thing with Jack Williams and Julian. (Indianapolis Colts defensive tackle) Danny Muir was not heavily recruited.

“I think over the years our staff has done a really good job of both evaluating and developing talent. And when you have good kids who are willing to come in and work with a staff that really cares about them, those kids can go a long way.”

Four other KSU athletes signed rookie free agent contracts late Sunday. Left tackle Augustus Parrish signed with the New Orleans Saints, wide receiver Shawn Bays signed with the Oakland Raiders, cornerback Rico Murray signed with the Cincinnati Bengals and KSU wrestler Jermail Porter inked a deal to join Edelman with the New England Patriots.