DRAFT ROUNDUP


Mooney draft history: John Simon (Ohio State) was the last Cardinal Mooney graduate selected in the NFL draft, going in the fourth round to the Baltimore Ravens in 2013. Simon now plays for the Houston Texans. Other Cardinals who have been drafted are: QB Jim Traficant (Pitt), 29th round by the Steelers in 1962 (No. 276 overall); OT Ed Muransky (Michigan), fourth round by the Raiders in 1982 (91st pick); OT Don Maggs (Tulane) second round by the Oilers in 1984 supplemental draft (29th pick); and TE Vince Marrow (Toledo), 11th round by the Bills in 1992 (307th pick). Marrow is now an assistant coach at Kentucky where ex-Mooney running back Braylon Heard spent the last two seasons.

Hubbard draft history: Anthony Smith (Syracuse) was the last Hubbard graduate drafted, going in the third round of the 2006 draft to the Pittsburgh Steelers. C Al Pitts (Michigan State) was drafted by the Browns in the sixth round in 1978.

Long and winding road: Pitt safety Ray Vinopal (Mooney) started six games and played in seven others as a true freshman at Michigan in 2010, then transferred after head coach Rich Rodriguez was fired. After sitting out the 2011 season, he played in 13 games in 2012 (starting the opener against Youngstown State), then started all 26 games over his junior and senior seasons at Pitt. When asked if he would have done anything different, Vinopal said, “I can’t say I would because most of the changes weren’t in my hands,” he said. “They weren’t forseeable. If Coach Rodriguez ended up staying at Michigan, I would have ended up staying, so who knows what would have happened. I found a great home at Pitt and I loved my time there.” Vinopal still exchanges text messages with Pitt coach Paul Chryst, who left for Wisconsin in the offseason. “He’s a stand-up guy and I have so much respect for him,” Vinopal said. “I couldn’t imagine ending my college career more satisfied with who had control of the team.” Heard, who transferred from Nebraska to Kentucky, also said he wouldn’t have done anything differently. “I feel like everything happens for a reason,” he said. “God has a plan for everyone.”

Hometown proud: Hubbard’s Kurtis Drummond said growing up in Youngstown taught him the value of hard work. “It’s definitely an area where, from a young age, you learn to work hard and go after what you want,” he said. “The people who come out of there are great people who are gonna work hard to be able to support their family.” Vinopal agreed, saying, “The kids from this area are tough. Guys that take pride in everything they do.”

Joe Scalzo

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