The NFL draft came and went last weekend and for the fourth-straight year the Cards had at least one player selected in the draft. This years draft went nothing like what everyone expected. Personally, I believed 5 or 6 Cards would be drafted and another 3 would receive free agent contracts. I expected Harvey-Clemons to be the first Card taken in about the fourth round. I was a little off. Here is a chart from NFL.com of the Cards drafted in the last 4 years.
| YEAR | RD | SEL # | PLAYER | POSITION | TEAM |
| 2017 | 6 | 213 | Colin Holba | LS | Pittsburgh Steelers |
| 2017 | 7 | 230 | Josh Harvey-Clemons | SAF | Washington Redskins |
| 2016 | 1 | 12 | Sheldon Rankins | DT | New Orleans Saints |
| 2015 | 1 | 14 | DeVante Parker | WR | Miami Dolphins |
| 2015 | 3 | 72 | Jamon Brown | T | St. Louis Rams |
| 2015 | 3 | 81 | John Miller | G | Buffalo Bills |
| 2015 | 3 | 82 | Lorenzo Mauldin | LB | New York Jets |
| 2015 | 4 | 104 | James Sample | SAF | Jacksonville Jaguars |
| 2015 | 6 | 177 | Deiontrez Mount | LB | Tennessee Titans |
| 2015 | 6 | 189 | Charles Gaines | CB | Cleveland Browns |
| 2015 | 6 | 193 | B.J. Dubose | DE | Minnesota Vikings |
| 2015 | 7 | 239 | Gerod Holliman | FS | Pittsburgh Steelers |
| 2015 | 7 | 256 | Gerald Christian | TE | Arizona Cardinals |
| 2014 | 1 | 18 | Calvin Pryor | FS | New York Jets |
| 2014 | 1 | 26 | Marcus Smith | DE | Philadelphia Eagles |
| 2014 | 1 | 32 | Teddy Bridgewater | QB | Minnesota Vikings |
| 2014 | 3 | 73 | Preston Brown | ILB | Buffalo Bills |
As you now know, long snapper Colin Holba from Eastern High School in Louisville, was the first Card drafted. He was drafted by the Pittsburgh Steelers, in the 6th round and the 213th pick overall. Although Holba was a long snapper in high school, he didn’t even play football his senior year. After enrolling at Louisville he became a manager for the Cards baseball team. He decided he wanted to try to become a “walk on” with the football team. After a failed tryout he emailed the Louisville coaching staff asking for another chance saying he didn’t feel they saw his best. He got his chance and made the team in 2013. He earned a scholarship in 2015. Through hard work, faith and perseverance, Holba became the top rated long snapper in the college football. He was invited to the Senior Bowl and the NFL combine. It was believed that the New Orleans Saints were very interested in drafting Holba but as fate would have it, he was drafted by his favorite team.
If you're still not sold on taking a long snapper yet, just watch the #Steelers highlight video of @ColinHolba with Titanic music over it. pic.twitter.com/zxbFxCskV0
— Daniel Valente (@StatsGuyDaniel) April 30, 2017
The only other Card drafted was Josh Harvey-Clemons who was a 2 year starter after transferring from Georgia. He was drafted by the Washington Redskins in the 7th round and the 230th overall pick.
“I’m very excited for both Colin and Josh to hear their names called in the NFL Draft,” head coach Bobby Petrino said. “Colin was an extremely valuable and reliable long snapper for us over the last two seasons. Josh was a big-play performer for us in the secondary the last two seasons. I wish both players the best of luck as they pursue their careers in the NFL.”
While Colin and Josh were the only 2 players drafted, they are not the only former Cards from this year’s team that will be rookies in the NFL. 8 players have signed free agent deals. Devonte Fields and Jamari Staples are still unsigned for some reason. Staples tweeted that he has not signed with the Chicago Bears even though this tweet from UofL says that he has. ( Tobiah Hughley will be in camp with the NY Giants next week trying to earn a job).
Congrats to the nine Cards that have inked free agent deals! #L1C4 #CardsInThePros pic.twitter.com/wfFCnzoR7j
— LouisvilleFootball (@UofLFootball) May 1, 2017
As Always, GO CARDS!
