8 Hokies drafted, along with WVU RBs, UVA's Santi

Associated Press

April 28, 2008 12:17 am

— NEW YORK (AP) — The second day of the NFL draft was a big day for Virginia Tech. Defensive end Chris Ellis went in the third round to Buffalo, followed by fellow Hokies Xavier Adibi in the fourth round to Houston, defensive tackle Carlton Powell in the fifth round to Denver, wide receiver Josh Morgan in the sixth round to San Francisco, and wide receiver Justin Harper to Baltimore in the seventh round.
The Hokies’ eight players drafted was the second highest number in school history.
Virginia tight end Tom Santi was chosen by Indianapolis in the sixth round.
Virginia Tech’s Ellis had been projected by some as an outside linebacker if he was chosen by a team that plays a three-man front. But the Bills employ a 4-3 scheme, which should allow Ellis to remain a defensive end.
“I can just let it hang now,” Ellis said. “they need some pass rushers, so hopefully I can come in and be an early addition to that.”
Owen Schmitt, one of the most popular West Virginia University football players in recent memory, is going to be a Seahawk.
Schmitt was selected by Seattle in the fifth round of the NFL draft. The one-time walk-on was selected with the 163rd pick overall.
The 6-foot-3, 260-pound fullback with a smoothed-down mohawk haircut rose from walk-on to one of the toughest, hardest-hitting players in college football. He broke at least 10 of his own face masks.
Schmitt finished his stellar career in style, rumbling a career-high 57 yards for a touchdown in a Fiesta Bowl win over Oklahoma in January.
Schmitt’s NFL stock grew during workouts for various scouts at the Senior Bowl in late January.
Fellow running back Steve Slaton is heading to Texas, after being picked in the third round Sunday. He was the 89th pick overall and the 26th pick in the third round.
Slaton decided to skip his senior season after a pre-draft report from the NFL assessed him as a second-round selection.
Slaton compiled 1,051 yards in 2007, giving him a third straight 1,000-yard season. He also matched his career high with 17 rushing TDs and set a school career record with 50 TDs.
Slaton also was the team’s second-leading receiver with 26 catches for 350 yards and a score.
Mountaineer defensive back Ryan Mundy went to the Pittsburgh Steelers in round six.
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The complete list of NFL draftees is included in today's sports section.