STATESBORO, Ga. – Two Georgia Southern Eagles, Jerick McKinnon and Lavelle Westbrooks, were selected in this weekend's NFL Draft, and head to their new teams for rookie camp this week. McKinnon, a third-round pick (96) of the Minnesota Vikings, and Westbrooks, a seventh-round choice (252) of the Cincinnati Bengals, were four-year starters for the Eagles and earned All-America honors during their careers.

Westbrooks received his itinerary and will arrive in Cincinnati early this week to meet team personnel. The Vikings' rookie camp also begins this week, a short turnaround after the May draft dates, two weeks later than usual.
McKinnon, drafted as a running back and backup to the Vikings' Adrian Peterson, was the first Georgia Southern offensive player to selected by an NFL team since NCAA Division I career rushing leader Adrian Peterson, who had a nine-year pro career with the Chicago Bears. Safety J.J. Wilcox was the last Georgia Southern defensive back selected in the NFL Draft, the 80th pick overall in 2013.

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. The fifth Eagle defensive back taken in the history of the draft, Westbrooks heads to Cincinnati as a cornerback and the first selected by that organization. He was tabbed by Fox Sports as the best cover corner during the Reese's Senior Bowl week in January.

"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 Saturday when the call came from the Bengals organization. "I want to go up there, play ball and show them what I can do."

McKinnon has had an extra day to let everything sink in. The two-time All-American and team MVP, he was selected Friday night, the final regular pick of the third round.

"When they called me, I just started crying," said Jerick McKinnon about taking the call from the Minnesota Vikings at his home in Marietta, Ga. "I can't explain how I feel. Just to get to this point, there was so much work and effort, and having it play out this way, this is a testament of God doing His work. At the end of the day, I feel very blessed."

McKinnon, who scored the game-winning touchdown in Georgia Southern's epic victory over Florida in "The Swamp" last November, left his mark on the program with 3,899 career rushing yards for third in that category and top-10 rankings in numerous others.

Westbrooks and Darius Eubanks, who joined the Cleveland Browns organization last season, will square off in Cincinnati Thursday, Nov. 6th and then in Cleveland on Sunday, December 14th.  Eubanks and the Browns will play the Jaguars in Jacksonville, Sunday, October 19th, the closest an Eagle will get to Statesboro during the NFL season as J.J. Wilcox and the Cowboys meet the Jaguars in London's Wembley Stadium in November.

Football fans can see the most successful program in FCS history play its first year in the FBS and Sun Belt Conference at Paulson Stadium this fall. Season tickets for the 2014 campaign, which includes two Thursday night showcase games, 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.