Four former Beavers NFL-bound after weekend

Safety Sabby Piscitelli returns home to play for Tampa Bay, while offensive tackle Koets gets drafted by New York Giants

By: Frank Hoaglin

Posted: 5/3/07

It is generally every college football player's dream, and it came true for four Oregon State Beavers on Saturday and Sunday. Safety Sabby Piscitelli was drafted in the second round of the NFL draft on Saturday, going to the Tampa Bay Buccaneers. The New York Giants then selected tackle Adam Koets in the sixth round. While quarterback Matt Moore and tight end Joe Newton were not drafted, they were both signed as undrafted free agents by the Dallas Cowboys and the Seattle Seahawks, respectively.

"It's two dream comes true at once," Piscitelli said. "Being able to be drafted and play in the NFL, and getting the opportunity to come back home and play in my home state. So it is definitely two dreams come true at once."

The Buccaneers already have a beastly defense led by veterans Simeon Rice, Derrick Brooks, and Ronde Barber, but add Piscitelli and first round pick Gaines Adams out of Clemson, and the Bucs defense looks to be pretty intimidating.

"Tampa Bay is known for their defense, and I think they are ready to get back to what they are known for; their ferocious defense," Piscitelli explains. "They spent their first round pick on Gaines Adams, and they picked me in the second, so hopefully I can contribute and go in there and help their defense become the best in the NFL."

Scouts have frequently compared Sabby to 15-year veteran and Pro Bowler John Lynch. ESPN.com's Scouts Inc. were also impressed with his speed and instincts, and mentioned that he could convert to outside linebacker.

"John Lynch is in a class of his own. He's one of the best to ever play the game," Piscitelli said. "To even hear my name in the same sentence as him is a tremendous honor. I'm just going to go in there and do what Sabby does and make my plays and play the game the way I play."

Offensive tackle Adam Koets, along with fellow Oregonian (Tight end from Western Oregon) Kevin Boss, head across country to play for head coach Tom Coughlin and the New York Giants.

Moore went from being a middle round possibility to a late round sleeper to an undrafted free agent, signing with the Dallas Cowboys. With Drew Bledsoe retiring this off-season, the possibility to potentially be a backup for starter Tony Romo is there. In day two of the NFL Draft, ESPN Senior Analyst Mel Kiper Jr. mentioned that Moore would make an NFL general manager look like a genius if they drafted him. The veteran ESPN analyst broke down game film with Moore's performance against the University of Washington, where he was an impressive 14 of 19 for 308 yards and a touchdown. Kiper also complimented his vision as he saw wideout Sammie Stroughter streaking downfield, as well as his arm strength as he completed the pass for an 80-yard touchdown.

Scouts in the War Room of The Sporting News even mentioned that Moore has the qualities to make it in the NFL.

Newton, arguably one of the top tight end prospects in the nation after his senior year, went undrafted as well, however, found himself in a quite opportune place by landing with the NFC West Champion Seattle Seahawks.

"It's really exciting, obviously, because this is a really good team, a lot of big names guys on it, and very successful in the past," Newton said. "So just being able get the opportunity to go up there and mix it up with them is a big honor for me and it will be fun."

With Seahawks tight ends Itula Mili and newcomer Marcus Pollard out of his prime, Newton looks at this as a good opportunity and even better the aspect of playing in a West Coast type of offense. The kind that is similar to that of the offense at Oregon State.

"I am going to play whatever role they want me to play," Newton said. "The first part is just battling to make the team, and after that I will do whatever they ask me to do. If that's being a blocker, a receiver, or whatever they want me to do, it's what I'm willing to do."