WPIAL alums Nick Kwiatkoski, Quinton Jefferson get NFL draft calls

Nick Kwiatkoski didn’t want to set his expectations too high for Saturday, the final day of the NFL draft.

Some projections had him going in the fourth round, but others had him waiting until the fifth or even later, which would mean a longer afternoon.

He only ended up waiting an hour before he got a phone call from a Chicago area code. It was the Bears, telling Kwiatkoski, a Bethel Park graduate, that he was their newest linebacker.

Kwiatkoski and Woodland Hills defensive lineman Quinton Jefferson joined Clairton’s Tyler Boyd, chosen Friday, as WPIAL alums picked in the draft this weekend.

Kwiatkoski, who played college football at West Virginia, went No. 113 overall to the Bears. Jefferson was picked by the Seattle Seahawks at No. 147 overall out of Maryland.

“It’s just a great feeling,” Kwiatkoski said. “You really can’t describe it. I’m just happy that it happened, honestly.”

Kwiatkoski was the 15th pick of the fourth round. He said the past few days have been a bit anxious for him, as most projections had him going anywhere from the third to the fifth round.

“I’ve heard so many different things throughout the process that I was kind of managing my expectations in a way, kind of open to anything,” he said.

“The whole process in general has been great, but the last few days the anticipation has really built up and it’s been, like I said, a waiting game.”

He was originally recruited to the Mountaineers as a defensive back, but eventually shifted to linebacker and led the team in tackles for three consecutive seasons, earning first-team All-Big 12 honors as a senior.

Now, he’ll join a Bears franchise with a history of linebackers including Dick Butkus, Mike Singletary and Brian Urlacher.

“The list goes on with their great linebackers,” Kwiatkoski said. “To be a part of that group, just to be on that team, it’s just an honor.”

Jefferson was the eighth pick of the fifth round, going to the Seahawks. He earned honorable mention all-Big Ten honors this year with 12.5 tackles for loss and 6.5 sacks.

He had a season-ending injury just three games into the 2014 season, but came back to start all 12 of the Terrapins’ games last year.

As for local college players, Penn State added two more draftees Saturday in quick succession. Defensive lineman Anthony Zettel went in the sixth round, No. 202 overall, to the Detroit Lions. Just two picks later, his Nittany Lions teammate, safety Jordan Lucas, was chosen by the Miami Dolphins at No. 204.

They join quarterback Christian Hackenberg, defensive lineman Austin Johnson and defensive end Carl Nassib as the Penn State players selected this weekend.

Pitt did not have any players picked Saturday, leaving Boyd as the only Panther chosen this year. Tight end J.P. Holtz (Browns), cornerback Lafayette Pitts (Dolphins) and linebacker Nicholas Grigsby (Rams) agreed to undrafted free agent deals.