April 27, 2009
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| Pat White | |
MORGANTOWN, W.Va. - Quarterback Pat White, cornerback Ellis Lankster and punter Pat McAfee were selected in the 2009 NFL draft conducted last weekend in New York City.
White was the 44th overall player taken in the second round by the Miami Dolphins on Saturday, while Lankster and McAfee were taken in the second day of the draft on Sunday. Lankster was the 220th overall pick going to the Buffalo Bills, and McAfee was taken two spots later by the Indianapolis Colts.
White is the most prolific running quarterback in NCAA history and finished his career rushing for more than 4,000 yards and passing for more than 6,000. He established 19 school, conference and NCAA records during his brilliant four-year career, leading the Mountaineers to bowl victories in the Sugar, Gator, Fiesta and Meineke Car Care bowls.
White was a three-time team MVP and bowl game MVP and became the first player in Big East history to accumulate more than 10,000 yards of total offense.
During his senior season in 2008, he completed 180 of 274 passes for 1,842 yards and 21 touchdowns while rushing 191 times for 974 yards and eight touchdowns.
White was a two-time Big East offensive player of the year.
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| Ellis Lankster | Pat McAfee |
Lankster led the team with three interceptions to go with 68 tackles, 2 ½ takes for losses and seven pass breakups his senior season. The Whistler, Ala., resident earned second team all-Big East honors and was invited to play in the Senior Bowl.
McAfee was one of three specialists taken in this year's draft and was a two-time second team all-Big East punter behind Cincinnati's Kevin Huber (also taken in the draft). In 2008, McAfee ranked among the nation's top 10 punters with a 44.7 punting average with 25 of his punts downed inside the 20.
McAfee handled the kickoff and placekicking duties where he made 17 of 20 field goal tries including a long of 52 yards. He was a perfect 36 of 36 in PAT tries.
It is the second consecutive year the Mountaineers have had at least three players taken in the draft. Last year, running back Steve Slaton (third round), fullback Owen Schmitt (fifth round) and safety Ryan Mundy (sixth round) were selected.
McAfee becomes the first WVU specialist drafted since Todd Sauerbrun in 1995, and Lankster is only the fifth defensive player the Mountaineers have had selected since 2001.
And White becomes only the second Mountaineer quarterback taken since 2000 (Marc Bulger). Rasheed Marshall was listed as a wide receiver in the 2005 draft.
Thirteen West Virginia players have been drafted since 2001.
Offensive guard Greg Isdaner, who left school a year early to enter his name into the draft, linebacker Mortty Ivy, and two-time All-America offensive tackle Ryan Stanchek are among those West Virginia players expected to sign free agent contracts in the coming days.
The Big East had 27 players taken in the seven-round draft with regular-season champion Cincinnati leading the way with six. Connecticut had four with all four players going among the top 63 picks in the draft.
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