It’s been 50 years, 4 months and 23 days since an Arizona Wildcats starting quarterback was last taken by an NFL team.
Nick Foles didn’t mind waiting another round.
The Philadelphia Eagles selected Foles with their third round (No. 88 overall) selection in tonight’s NFL draft. Foles becomes the first UA starting quarterback taken in the draft, to play the position, since the Detroit Lions took Eddie Wilson in 1961. Foles was the only Wildcat selected on the second day of the draft; cornerback Trevin Wade and wide receiver Juron Criner could be picked during the final four rounds Saturday. The draft resumes at 9 a.m.
“I’m an Eagle!!!” Foles tweeted shortly after being picked. “So honored to be a part of such a great organization!”
Foles went almost one full round after the Denver Broncos took Arizona State’s Brock Osweiler with their second-round (No. 57 overall) selection. Osweiler, who declared for the draft after his junior year, will back up Peyton Manning, the Broncos’ marquee offseason acquisition.
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The Eagles and Foles seemed a possible fit at No. 59 overall, but the team picked Marshall defensive end Vinny Curry instead. Seattle drafted Wisconsin quarterback Russell Wilson in the third round, leaving Foles as the top-ranked quarterback left in the draft.
Eagles coach Andy Reid told reporters the third-round selection was "unanimous with our coaches." He also cross-checked Foles with ESPN analyst Jon Gruden, who hosted Foles for part of his televised quarterback special.
"I like the way he throws the football, and he’s also a smart guy," Reid said. "It’s a different offense, he’s going to have to learn this offense, but that’s OK. He’s smart enough to do that. … I’m curious to get him in here and let him throw the football around a little bit."
Foles will compete with Mike Kakfa and Trent Edwards for the backup job, behind starter Michael Vick. Reid was hesitant to label his newest quarterback.
"I feel like we're getting a big arm and a smart kid who loves to play the game and has had a lot of success," he said.
Foles’ pick snaps one of the UA’s twin football curses.
The Seahawks selected John Conner, a UA backup coming off a major injury, in the 10th round of the 1985 draft. The Redskins took Wildcats starter Alfred Jenkins two years later, but as a tight end.
The last UA quarterback to take a snap in the NFL was Bill Demory, an undrafted free agent who started three games for the New York Jets in 1973.
"That was a long time ago," Demory told the Star in 2008. "It's hard to believe that in all that time, the U of A hasn't had somebody stumble into the NFL and take a snap."
Foles has done more than stumble in.
In three seasons (2009-11) as Arizona’s starter, Foles — a transfer from Michigan State — threw for 10,011 yards and 67 touchdowns. His 66.8 percent completion clip and relatively low (33) interception numbers made him one of the nation’s most accurate quarterbacks. Some scouts and coaches were concerned by Foles' 40-yard dash time, however, which was — at 5.14 seconds — one of the slowest among quarterback prospects. Reid joked that Foles is "somewhere between" NFL stars Tom Brady and Ben Roethisberger in terms of speed.
"He’s a big drink of water," Reid said. "When he comes in here, he’s not a little guy. When you look at him, you ‘re not going to go, '(He's a) running quarterback.'"
Read more in Saturday's Arizona Daily Star.
