Welcome to the NFL: Here’s where players with Sacramento-area ties have landed
Three Sacramento-area football prospects received dream-come-true phone calls over the weekend.
Drafted to the NFL. Welcome aboard, son. Ready to go to work?
The draft offered examples of how far players have come and that it doesn’t matter how many recruiting stars one has coming out of high school. It matters what you do in college and during workouts in front of NFL scouts and executives.
Brandon Aiyuk garnered no stars as a defensive back/receiver at McQueen High School in Reno, then grew into his own and blossomed at Sierra College, which carried over at Arizona State and landed him a first-round selection to the 49ers.
Josiah Deguara was a two-star recruit at Folsom with just two scholarship offers: Air Force and Cincinnati. He grew into a tight end terror and became a third-round pick to the Green Bay Packers, where he expects to became fast friends with quarterback Aaron Rodgers, who can relate to being lightly recruited coming out of Chico to stardom.
Mykal Walker of Vacaville High attended small-college Azusa Pacific in Southern California to play linebacker before transferring to Fresno State, leading to a fourth-round selection by the Atlanta Falcons.
The NFL draft lasts just seven rounds, down from 17 rounds from decades past. Those who do not get drafted are still eligible to be signed as rookie free agents.
Defensive back Lamar Jackson of Franklin, defensive lineman George Obinna of Sacramento State, tackle Darrin Paulo of Grant roots and receiver Justice Shelton-Mosley of Capital Christian fame all signed over the weekend.
Jackson said, “I’m heading to New York, extremely thankful for the opportunity. It’s never the adversity itself that dictates fate. It’s your reaction to adversity that going to tell it all.”
The Sacramento Bee will update this list when more area players sign.
NFL bound
Here’s a list of players with Sacramento-area ties going to the NFL, with their position, local school they attended and the team they’re heading to.
Brandon Aiyuk, WR, Sierra College, 49ers: With no scholarship offers out of high school in Reno, Aiyuk blossomed at Sierra, then Arizona State and was plucked in the first round.
Josiah Deguara, TE, Folsom High, Green Bay Packers: A 2-star receiver recruit coming out of Folsom, Deguara grew into a dominant blocker and pass catcher at Cincinnati, going in the third round.
Lamar Jackson, Franklin High, New York Jets: Undrafted after starting three seasons at Nebraska, Jackson offers the ability to cover or hit and play special teams.
Joshua Kelley, RB, UC Davis, Los Angeles Chargers: A Southern California native, Kelley played his first two college seasons at UCD before heading home to UCLA. He was a fourth-round pick of the Chargers.
George Obinna, DL, Sacramento State, Cleveland Browns: Undrafted, Big George has a résumé that includes career sack records for the Hornets.
Darrin Paulo, OL, Grant High, New Orleans Saints: Undrafted out of Utah where he was a three-year starter, the 6-5, 305-pound Paulo gets a shot with a New Orleans team that went 13-3 in 2019.
Justice Shelton-Mosley, WR, Capital Christian High, Kansas City Chiefs: Undrafted out of Vanderbilt, Shelton-Mosley started his career at Harvard and can also play on special teams.
Mykal Walker, LB, Vacaville High, Atlanta Falcons: A fourth-round pick out of Fresno State, Walker started his college career at D-III Azusa Pacific.
This story was originally published April 26, 2020 at 5:11 PM.