Reaction to Raven's Selecting Greg Senat

Staten Island, NY - Wagner offensive tackle Greg Senat was selected by the Baltimore Ravens in the sixth round of the NFL Draft on Saturday, becoming the first Seahawk draft pick in 53 years.
 
Senat spent the afternoon watching the draft unfold on television, surrounded by a large gathering of family members and friends at Cassidy's Pub in mid-town
  
Manhattan. At 5:16 p.m., Senat's name was announced as the 38^th pick of the sixth round and 212^thselection overall. Minutes earlier, Senat's cell phone rang with news of the impending great news.

"(Baltimore General Manager & Executive Vice President,) Ozzie Newsome called me to tell me the Ravens had just submitted my name. It was great. I can't even really explain the feeling. I had a chance to speak with (head coach) John Harbaugh and their offensive line coach (Joe D'Alessandris)  I thought I might get picked sooner than I did, but when I got that call, it was a lot of relief and excitement. And to be picked by one of the NFL's staple teams in the Ravens, with all of their history, is special. I just can't wait to get down there and start showing them what I can do."
 
The 6-6, 310-pound Senat's journey to the NFL was a unique one. A four-year member of the Seahawk men's basketball team, Senat went on football scholarship prior to the 2016 season and became a fixture on the Seahawk offensive line, starting all 22 games that he played in during his two-year gridiron career. In 2016-17, Senat helped the Wagner hoops team to a 16-14 season as a senior before competing solely in football during the 2017 season as a fifth-year senior.
 
Since the conclusion of the 2017 season, Senat has achieved several firsts. In January, the Elmont, NY native became the first football player ever from a Northeast Conference (NEC) institution to be selected to play in the prestigious East-West Shrine All-Star Football Game.
 
Among the host of well-wishers on hand at Cassidy's, sharing in the celebration was Wagner head coach Jason Houghtaling.

"It was awesome, just awesome, Houghtaling, who was joined at the draft party by Wagner offensive line coach Stefon Wheeler and several of Senat's former Seahawk teammates. "As soon as the phone call came, boom, it was instant celebration. You're waiting around, and it's two years of grinding, two years of hard work coming down to one day. I'm just so proud of Greg and all that he has done to get to this point. Like I said, it was just awesome and I couldn't be happier for him."
 
Senat is the second Seahawk ever to be selected in the NFL draft, joining Rich Kotite, who was selected in the 18^th round of the 1965 NFL Draft by the Minnesota Vikings. Following his Hall of Fame playing career at Wagner, and before he would go on to become a longtime NFL assistant coach and later head coach of the Philadelphia Eagles and the New York Jets, Kotite spent five seasons in the NFL (1967-72), one with the Pittsburgh Steelers and four with the New York Giants.
 
The former Wagner player who has played in the most NFL games is one who took the free agent path to the NFL. In 2012, linebacker Julian Stanford signed with the Jacksonville Jaguars, before spending two seasons with the Detroit Lions, and another two with the New York Jets, seeing action in a combined 53 games for these three franchises. Following the 2017 season, he signed a multi-year contract with the Buffalo Bills.
 
On his way to becoming an NFL Draft pick, Senat has achieved several firsts. In January, the Elmont, NY native became the first football player ever from a Northeast Conference (NEC) institution to be selected to play in the prestigious East-West Shrine All-Star Football Game.
 
After impressing NFL scouts with his combination of size, speed and agility throughout the week of practice sessions and drills leading up to the January 20 game in Tampa, FL, Senat then became the first player from Wagner, and just the second NEC player, ever invited to the NFL Scouting Combine.
 
From February 27-March 3, Senat was one of 336 participants at this year's NFL Combine in Indianapolis, IN. Held at Lucas Oil Stadium, home of the Indianapolis Colts, Senat showcased his talents, going through a myriad of physical and mental tests, in front of NFL scouts and general managers.
 
Before, and after the combine, Senat trained under the watchful eye of Rich Sadiv, director of the NFL Combine Program for the Parisi Speed School in Fair Lawn, NJ, one of the leading authorities in preparing college players for the Combine and, ultimately, the NFL.