You may know about an MTSU football player being drafted into the NFL, but do you know the rest of the story?

May 10, 2014 at 10:10 pm by bryan


Middle Tennessee Blue Raider defensive tackle Jimmy Staten became the first MTSU player to be drafted since 2011, as he was selected 172nd overall in the fifth round of the 2014 NFL Draft by the defending Super Bowl Champion Seattle Seahawks.

Staten learned of the Seahawks' decision in the midst of his graduation ceremony on Saturday afternoon inside MTSU’s Murphy Center, and was given a special acknowledgement by MTSU President Sidney A. McPhee and a rousing ovation from the crowd, before later walking across the stage to receive his degree.

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A jubilant Staten, who received the call about being drafted while waiting to receive his degree in Liberal Studies, jumped up and pumped his fist in satisfaction as his fellow graduates cheered him on inside Hale Arena.

FOOTBALL BIO

The Waycross, Georgia, native was tabbed All-Conference USA Honorable Mention in 2013. He was also invited to the NFLPA Collegiate Bowl. As a senior, Staten was voted a permanent team captain. He played in 12 games, starting in 11. He completed his senior year finishing with 30 tackles, 1.5 tackles-for-loss, a pass breakup and two hurries.

Staten only missed the season opener against Western Carolina due to injury. He posted 36 tackles in 12 games as a junior. He finished his career with 49 career games played.

Staten is the 31st draft pick in school history, becoming the first since Rod Issac was selected by the Jacksonville Jaguars in the fifth round (147th overall) in 2011. He is the first Raider to be picked by Seattle since Tony Burse was a 12th round pick in 1987. Cornerback Marcus Udell was the last Raider to participate in a Seattle camp, participating there in 2010.

Staten will report to the Seahawks rookie camp in Seattle later this month.

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