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9 Chicago-area natives and where they went in the NFL draft, including a reunion for 2 former Marist teammates
TL;DR
Several NFL prospects from the Chicago area were drafted, primarily on Day 3. Notably, former Marist teammates Carnell Tate and Pat Coogan were among the selected players.
Key points
- Several NFL prospects from Chicago were drafted
- Most selections occurred on Day 3 of the draft
- Carnell Tate and Pat Coogan had a reunion as former Marist teammates
Carnell TatePat CooganMarist High School
NFL prospects with Chicago-area roots were well-represented during the draft.
The majority were selected on Day 3, when the league finished the selection process with Rounds 4 through 7 on Saturday.
Here’s a look at several of those picks.
Carnell Tate and Pat Coogan, Marist High School
It’s a Marist reunion.
The Tennessee Titans selected Tate, an Ohio State wide receiver, and Coogan, an Indiana center, who were briefly teammates at the Catholic prep in the Mount Greenwood neighborhood.
The Titans jostled some draft boards by taking Tate with the fourth pick on opening night. Then in the sixth round Saturday, they snagged Coogan with the 194th pick.
Former Marist coach Ron Dawczak said Tate, Coogan and linebacker Jimmy Rolder (more on him below) showed early on that they were “cut from a different cloth.”
By drafting Tate and Coogan, the Titans clearly were making an effort to build up the offense around franchise quarterback Cam Ward.
Coogan said via the team website that earning a starting spot “takes work, everything is earned. No good thing comes easy. I think everybody knows that now, but especially stepping up to this to this league. It’s going to be hard and that’s good.
“Hard is what we want, no good things come easy.”
Tate said he looks forward to facing opponents’ No. 1 cover corners as Ward’s go-to target: “That’s all you can ever want, the best on best.”
Titans GM Mike Borgonzi said of Tate: “He’s a bigger, vertical guy. The route running, very efficient, his route running. I thought he had exceptional ball skills to be able to track the footballs, catch radius downfield. I think he’s going to be a great fit in this offense.”
Jimmy Rolder, Marist
The Wolverines linebacker and former teammate of Coogan and Tate gets to stay in the state of Michigan with his selection by the Detroit Lions in the fourth round with the 118th pick.
“First time I looked at Rolder … I just kept saying, ‘Football player. This guy is a football player,’” Lions general manager Brad Holmes said. “I thought he was highly instinctive.”
Q&A
Which Chicago-area NFL prospects were drafted?
Several NFL prospects with Chicago-area roots were drafted, including Carnell Tate and Pat Coogan.
What rounds of the NFL draft featured Chicago-area players?
Most Chicago-area players were selected during Day 3 of the NFL draft, which includes Rounds 4 through 7.
Who are Carnell Tate and Pat Coogan?
Carnell Tate and Pat Coogan are former teammates from Marist High School who were drafted in the NFL.
What significance does the Marist reunion have in the NFL draft?
The reunion of Carnell Tate and Pat Coogan highlights the connection between high school football and professional opportunities for players from the Chicago area.