Next Level Work Begins for Three Eagles
4/29/2013 9:10:00 PM | Football
STATESBORO, Ga. – Eagle All-American J.J. Wilcox became the highest-ever NFL draftee in the history of the Georgia Southern program Friday when he was selected by the Dallas Cowboys in the third round and 80th pick overall. Teammates Darius Eubanks and Brent Russell signed free agent contracts Saturday night with Eubanks headed to Minnesota and Russell to Chicago. The trio joins Laron Scott, with the New York Giants organization, and Tennessee Titan Rob Bironas as Eagles with NFL teams.
Both Wilcox and Eubanks will be the first Eagles to join their respective teams. Russell is the third Georgia Southern player to head to the Windy City as Adrian Peterson was drafted by Chicago in 2002 and had an eight-year career with the Bears and Eagle offensive guard James Carter was on the roster as a rookie in 1987.
Eubanks heads to Eden Prairie, Minn., this Thursday for the Vikings' minicamp. Wilcox arrived in Dallas on Saturday and will participate in the Cowboys' rookie minicamp May 10-12th. Russell will be in Halas Hall with the Bears that same weekend.
Wilcox flourished on the Georgia Southern defense in 2012, with the All-American finishing second on the team with 88 total tackles (47 U, 41A) and had two interceptions and three pass breakups. In his first three years as a wide receiver and slot back, he racked up enough receiving yards to rank on the Eagles' career top-10 list. He also ranks in the career top 10 for kickoff returns and yards.
A first-team all-Southern Conference pick, Eubanks also made the transition to a new position in his senior season, moving from linebacker to safety. He led the Eagles in tackles in three games, finishing third for the season behind linebacker John Stevenson and Wilcox. He forced the fumble in overtime for Georgia Southern's win over over top-ranked Appalachian State in 2010 that helped propel the Eagles to a playoff bid and the first of their three-straight trips to the NCAA FCS Semifinals.
Russell finished his Georgia Southern career at the top of the career sacks chart and second on the all-time list for tackles for loss. He also owns spots on those single-season rankings for both categories as well as on the career and season list for blocked kicks. He scooped up a blocked PAT attempt in the 2010 Coastal Carolina game and lateralled it to Derek Heyden for two points.
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