Boardman’s John Greco 65th pick

By Joe Scalzo

Boardman’s John Greco 65th pick

Antwaun Molden, Mario Manningham and Mike McGlynn were also selected.

The wait ended at 10:09 a.m.

As former YSU quarterback Ron Jaworski waxed on about the Detroit Lions’ first pick of the third round on ESPN, an NFL executive named Ray Anderson stepped up to the podium Sunday morning at Radio City Musical Hall in New York and announced that the St. Louis Rams were drafting Boardman High graduate John Greco, an offensive tackle from Toledo, with the second pick of the third round and the 65th overall.

He was the first area player selected. He wouldn’t be the last.

Over the next three hours, three more area natives were drafted, beginning with Warren Harding’s Antwaun Molden, a cornerback from Eastern Kentucky who went to the Houston Texans with the 16th pick of the third round.

“There was just a sense of relief,” said Molden. “You spend all your energy leading up to this moment, but you never know what’s going to happen until it comes.”

Less than an hour later, his former high school teammate, Michigan wide receiver Mario Manningham, was chosen by the Super Bowl champion Giants with the 32nd pick of the third round.

“I am very, very excited and flattered,” Manningham said. “They obviously have a great team. I am just excited to learn and do the best that I can.”

The fourth — and final — area player selected came on the 10th pick of the fourth round as Fitch High’s Mike McGlynn, a guard from Pitt, was chosen by the Philadelphia Eagles.

“I’m really excited about the opportunity,” said McGlynn. “It was a big moment for me and I’m really excited to be an Eagle.”

Greco, a four-year starter for the Rockets, said earlier that he didn’t expect to be chosen until the draft’s second day and was just hoping to be picked. His experience, versatility (he played tackle and guard at Toledo) and football IQ impressed the Rams’ brass.

“We stayed with the philosophy of these guys coming out that were smart, compassionate and productive,” Rams coach Scott Linehan told reporters. “This guy [Greco] was A-plus across the board on all of that.”

One more player with area ties was selected in the sixth round when Mount Union wide receiver Pierre Garcon became the second player in school history to be drafted. The West Palm Beach, Fla., native was chosen with the 39th pick in the round (No. 205 overall) by the Indianapolis Colts after rewriting the receiving record books at MUC.

West Virginia defensive tackle Keilen Dykes (Chaney) wasn’t chosen but will likely sign with a team as a free agent over the next few days. The two-time first team All-Big East player was the highest-rated defensive tackle remaining on the board, according to Scouts Inc.

Fitch’s Davanzo Tate, a cornerback from Akron who started his career at West Virginia, and YSU’s Dorian Chenault and James Terry could also get training camp invitations.

Manningham’s drop was one of the biggest stories of the draft’s second day, although it wasn’t entirely unexpected. When he declared for the draft this winter after a stellar junior season at Michigan, many projected him as a first-round pick. But a poor performance at the combine in February, combined with revelations that he twice tested positive for marijuana (which he initially denied), contributed to his slide.

When asked about the drop, Manningham said, “It is a weird way to get a job, but it doesn’t matter now. I am very excited.”

Giants GM Jerry Reese, who got contributions from all seven of his draft picks last year on the road to the NFL title, told reporters he thought Manningham had first-round talent.

“At this point at the bottom of the third round for us, we think this is a guy that has great value,” said Reese. “And again, we did our homework on him. We are satisfied that he will be OK.”

Molden, who transferred to Cleveland Glenville midway through his senior year, started his college career at Toledo before transferring to Eastern Kentucky for his final three years. Although he was a solid track and football athlete at Harding, no one would have predicted he’d be the earliest player drafted among a group of the Raiders that included Maurice Clarett, Prescott Burgess and Manningham.

“Everyone doubted me, but I knew all along I had the work ethic and the potential; all I needed was an opportunity,” said Molden. “I was given an opportunity at the combine and I was able to show my skills.”

Molden was hoping to go earlier — he said it was frustrating to watch several cornerbacks selected before him in the first two rounds — but was grateful to the Texans for selecting him.

“It’s a good city with a great organization and a great head coach [Gary Kubiak],” he said. “They’re a young team on the rise and I’m going into camp with the approach that I’ve got to work hard first and foremost to make the team.

“You see what happened with Clarett. Even third-rounders can get cut. I’ve just got to establish myself at a position first and then get acquainted with the system and the schemes and the speed of the NFL.”

McGlynn, a four-year starter at Pitt, was also hoping to be selected higher, but was in no mood to complain about where he’s headed. The Eagles’ tradition, and location, made them a good fit, he said.

“My family being able to drive, or have a short flight, is really nice,” he said.

McGlynn also kept tabs on his friend Greco this weekend.

“I was happy for John,” he said. “I’m glad he got picked. I’m happy for him and his family.”

Greco did not respond to repeated interview requests.

The four selections fell short of the area’s best draft when six players were selected in 1963. It is the best in recent history, however, bettering last year’s draft when three players were chosen. Two were chosen in 2006 and 2005.

scalzo@vindy.com