The 2008 NFL draft didn’t include much local flavor. Until Sunday afternoon’s seventh round, the draft didn’t include any Washington players at all.
In danger of being the first draft not to include a player from a Washington school, this year’s draft saw its drought end when the Houston Texans selected Washington State quarterback Alex Brink in the seventh round Sunday afternoon.
Brink was the only player from WSU, University of Washington, Eastern Washington, Western Washington or Central Washington to get drafted this year. It marked the first time since 1940 that the annual draft included only one player from a Washington school.
Only one other time in the past 46 years — in 2003 — did a draft go by without a single UW player getting selected. Schools like Army, Bentley, Gardner-Webb, Mount Union, St. Augustine and Wheaton had players drafted, while the Huskies did not.
WSU players Michael Bumpus and Husain Abdullah went undrafted, but at least the Cougars didn’t get shut out.
Brink, who is WSU’s all-time leading passer, lasted until the 223rd overall pick and was the 13th and final quarterback drafted.
“I was real excited,” Brink said during a conference call with Houston reporters on Sunday afternoon. “It was definitely a relief. I’ve certainly been waiting around all day, hoping for something like this to happen, and I’m just excited that I’m going to get a great opportunity with a great organization.”
The Texans already have a quality starter in Matt Schaub and two experienced backups in Quinn Gray and Sage Rosenfels. Brink is likely to challenge second-year player Shane Boyd and one of the veterans for a roster spot.
Texans coach Gary Kubiak said he believes that Brink can play at the NFL level, due in part to his experience in a big conference like the Pac-10.
“This guy knows what it is to be chased by very good people,” Kubiak said. “He’ll get rid of the ball. So all that stuff, he’s way ahead in that standpoint.”
Brink is the first WSU quarterback drafted since Ryan Leaf in 1998.
“Not a lot of talk about this kid because he is up in the Pacific Northwest, but we really like what we see out of him,” Texans general manager Rick Smith said. “We think that he has the chance to develop into a quality NFL quarterback.”
WSU’s Bumpus and UW wide receiver Anthony Russo were among 12 rookies who agreed to terms with the Seahawks after the draft. Both are expected to participate in a minicamp with the team this weekend.
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