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Watson waits; EWU's Ebukam, WSU's Luani drafted

From local reports and news services | Hagadone News Network | UPDATED 7 years, 9 months AGO
by From local reports and news services
| April 29, 2017 11:59 PM

Deon Watson says he’s still waiting for the call, and still holding out hope.

Eastern Washington defensive end Samson Ebukam went to the Los Angeles Rams in the fourth round of the NFL Draft on Saturday.

And Washington State defensive back Shalom Luani was picked in the seventh round by the Oakland Raiders.

Watson, the former Coeur d’Alene High and University of Idaho standout, said early Saturday evening he was not contacted by any teams after the conclusion of the draft.

A hybrid tight end/wide receiver, the 6-foot-4, 230-pound Watson had attracted interest from some NFL teams leading up to the draft.

“I have no regrets in the process, I gave it my all and I will continue to do so,” he posted on Twitter. “My journey is far from over ... ”

Ebukam joined wide receiver Cooper Kupp as the highest-drafted duo in EWU history. One day earlier, Kupp was drafted 69th overall when the Rams picked him in the third round.

Kupp is the second-highest draft choice in school history, and Ebukam equals running back Taiwan Jones for third. Jones was picked by Oakland in the 2011 NFL Draft and has been with the Raiders ever since.

Ebukam was part of a multi-team trade that enable the Rams to gain the 125th pick and select Ebukam, a 2013 graduate of David Douglas High School in Portland, Ore.

“When (Cooper) got picked by them I was like, ‘Yeah, that’s the perfect team,’” said Ebukam, who was drafted as an outside linebacker. “Then I thought to myself, what are the chances I get picked by the same team? And it just happened and I was like, ‘Woah, Eagles really do stick together.’ That’s awesome.

“(Los Angeles) was my first visit too,” he added of the hectic last month when he impressed scouts with his Pro Day workout at EWU on March 28. “I was just ecstatic. I had a gut feeling that it would be them to take me and I’m just blessed right now. I just can’t wait to get to work.”

The only other duo in school history to both be drafted came in 1987 when offensive tackle Ed Simmons was picked in the sixth round by Washington and Craig Richardson was chosen in the 11th round by Kansas City. Simmons went on to play 11 years as a “Hog” for the Redskins, helping them win the 1992 Super Bowl.

Luani is the first Cougar defensive player drafted since defensive lineman Xavier Cooper was taken in the third round of the 2015 draft by the Cleveland Browns. Luani is the first Cougar defensive back drafted since Deone Bucannon was taken as the No. 27 overall pick by the Arizona Cardinals in 2014.

Luani is the first Cougar drafted by the Raiders since safety Eric Frampton was selected in the fifth round of the 2007 draft.

Luani played two seasons at Washington State after transferring from San Francisco City College, earning All-Pac-12 honors both seasons including first-team accolades in 2016.

Following the draft, two other former Idaho football players signed as undrafted free agents with NFL teams — Austin Rehkow with the Buffalo Bills, and defensive lineman Tueni Lupeamanu with the Jacksonville Jaguars.

Washington State wide receiver Gabe Marks signed with the New York Jets, and nose tackle Robert Barber with the Carolina Panthers.

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April 29, 2017 11:59 p.m.

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