Spring Break
Four former Beavers NFL-bound after weekend
Safety Sabby Piscitelli returns home to play for Tampa Bay, while offensive tackle Koets gets drafted by New York Giants
Frank Hoaglin
Issue date: 5/3/07 Section: Sports
It is generally every college football player's dream, and it came true for four Oregon State Beavers on Saturday and Sunday. Safety Sabby Piscitelli was drafted in the second round of the NFL draft on Saturday, going to the Tampa Bay Buccaneers. The New York Giants then selected tackle Adam Koets in the sixth round. While quarterback Matt Moore and tight end Joe Newton were not drafted, they were both signed as undrafted free agents by the Dallas Cowboys and the Seattle Seahawks, respectively.
"It's two dream comes true at once," Piscitelli said. "Being able to be drafted and play in the NFL, and getting the opportunity to come back home and play in my home state. So it is definitely two dreams come true at once."
The Buccaneers already have a beastly defense led by veterans Simeon Rice, Derrick Brooks, and Ronde Barber, but add Piscitelli and first round pick Gaines Adams out of Clemson, and the Bucs defense looks to be pretty intimidating.
"Tampa Bay is known for their defense, and I think they are ready to get back to what they are known for; their ferocious defense," Piscitelli explains. "They spent their first round pick on Gaines Adams, and they picked me in the second, so hopefully I can contribute and go in there and help their defense become the best in the NFL."
Scouts have frequently compared Sabby to 15-year veteran and Pro Bowler John Lynch. ESPN.com's Scouts Inc. were also impressed with his speed and instincts, and mentioned that he could convert to outside linebacker.
"John Lynch is in a class of his own. He's one of the best to ever play the game," Piscitelli said. "To even hear my name in the same sentence as him is a tremendous honor. I'm just going to go in there and do what Sabby does and make my plays and play the game the way I play."
Offensive tackle Adam Koets, along with fellow Oregonian (Tight end from Western Oregon) Kevin Boss, head across country to play for head coach Tom Coughlin and the New York Giants.
"It's two dream comes true at once," Piscitelli said. "Being able to be drafted and play in the NFL, and getting the opportunity to come back home and play in my home state. So it is definitely two dreams come true at once."
The Buccaneers already have a beastly defense led by veterans Simeon Rice, Derrick Brooks, and Ronde Barber, but add Piscitelli and first round pick Gaines Adams out of Clemson, and the Bucs defense looks to be pretty intimidating.
"Tampa Bay is known for their defense, and I think they are ready to get back to what they are known for; their ferocious defense," Piscitelli explains. "They spent their first round pick on Gaines Adams, and they picked me in the second, so hopefully I can contribute and go in there and help their defense become the best in the NFL."
Scouts have frequently compared Sabby to 15-year veteran and Pro Bowler John Lynch. ESPN.com's Scouts Inc. were also impressed with his speed and instincts, and mentioned that he could convert to outside linebacker.
"John Lynch is in a class of his own. He's one of the best to ever play the game," Piscitelli said. "To even hear my name in the same sentence as him is a tremendous honor. I'm just going to go in there and do what Sabby does and make my plays and play the game the way I play."
Offensive tackle Adam Koets, along with fellow Oregonian (Tight end from Western Oregon) Kevin Boss, head across country to play for head coach Tom Coughlin and the New York Giants.
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