Westbrooks Selected by Cincinnati Bengals in 7th Round of NFL Draft
5/10/2014 8:24:00 PM | Football
Two Eagles selected in draft for first time since 1987
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Transcript of Cincinnati Bengals Head Coach Marv Lewis Press Conference
STATESBORO, Ga. – Georgia Southern cornerback Lavelle Westbrooks was selected by the Cincinnati Bengals as the 37th pick in the seventh round of the 2014 NFL Draft Saturday. He becomes the fifth Eagle defensive back drafted by NFL teams in the program history and the first to be selected by the Bengals.
A four-year starter at both cornerback and safety, Westbrooks was tabbed by Fox Sports as the best cover corner during the Reese's Senior Bowl week this past January. Westbrooks started in 41 of his 49 career games as an Eagle and was honored by Phil Steele Publications as a second team All-American as a senior.
"I feel great, I am very blessed and excited to know where I am going to play football," said Lavelle Westbooks, who was with family at his Riverdale, Georgia, home when the call came from the Bengals organization. "I wasn't anxious today, but the Bengals were the first team I met with and after all this time, they chose me. I spoke to Darius (Eubanks) today and he told me that we're in a very physical conference. I want to go up there, play ball and show them what I can do."
Westbrooks received his itinerary and will arrive in Cincinnati early this week to meet team personnel.
Westbrooks was a second-team All-Southern Conference pick by both coaches and media after leading the league in passes defended for most of the 2013 season. He recorded 10 tackles in the Eagles' triple overtime victory over Chattanooga in 2012 and finished his career with 167 total. He had two interceptions in each of the last two seasons, returning one for 72-yards for a touchdown against Samford in 2012.
The last time two Eagles were taken in the NFL Draft was 1987 when Tracy Ham, drafted as a running back (9th round), and defensive end Fred Stokes (12th round) were both selected by the Los Angeles Rams. Safety J.J. Wilcox was the last Georgia Southern defensive back selected in the NFL Draft, the 80th pick overall in 2013.
Two Eagles are now with NFL teams based in Ohio as linebacker Darius Eubanks joined the Cleveland Browns organization last season and earned a starting spot after he was promoted to the active roster at the end of October.
Season tickets for the 2014 campaign, Georgia Southern's first in the FBS and Sun Belt Conference, are available for purchase online at GSEagles.com/fbtix. A "Meet Your Seat" event is set for Saturday, May 31st, from 2-4 p.m. to unveil the new mid-deck and north stands seating. For more information, call 1-800-GSU-WINS or e-mail tickets@georgiasouthern.edu weekdays from 8:30 a.m.-5 p.m.
Georgia Southern Athletics provides up-to-date information on all its sports through its official website, GSEagles.com, through social media channels facebook.com/GSAthletics, twitter.com/GSAthletics, iOS app Georgia Southern Eagles and Android app Eagles GATA.
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