Fresno State Athletics
Bulldogs find NFL homes following draft
5/2/2016 12:00:00 AM | Football
By: Matt Burkholder
mburkholder@csufresno.edu
GoBulldogs.com
FRESNO, Calif. - In spite of the Bulldogs' Mountain West best 15-year run of having at least one player selected in the annual NFL Draft come to an end on Saturday, Fresno State football's long-standing tradition of sending players to the NFL continued through free agency following it. As of Monday, eight of the 13 seniors that participated in March's Pro Day have been picked up by teams across the league.
At the conclusion of the seventh round,, five were signed within minutes, which included LS Dylan Detwiler (Kansas City Chiefs), OLB Ejiro Ederaine (Washington Redskins), P Garrett Swanson (Arizona Cardinals), CB Charles Washington (Detroit Lions) and ILB Kyrie Wilson (Oakland Raiders).
As the undrafted free agency process continued to unfold, OL Alex Fifita (Atlanta Falcons) and DE Claudell Louis (Buffalo Bills) were signed, while RB Marteze Waller was invited to participate in both the Cleveland Browns and Green Bay Packers minicamps.
Next up for these former Bulldogs will be rookie minicamp. Teams may elect to hold their one three-day post-draft rookie minicamp on either May 6-9 or May 13-16.
2016 FRESNO STATE UDFA AT A GLANCE...
Dylan Detwiler - Kansas City Chiefs
• Served as the team's primary long snapper for three and a half seasons.
• Played in 45 games.
• Elected team captain as a senior by his peers.
Ejiro Ederaine - Washington Redskins
• Two-time, second-team All-Mountain West selection (2013, 2015).
• Finished collegiate career with 45.5 tackles for a loss, ranking No. 2 all-time in Mountain West history.
• Recorded 21.0 sacks in his career, ranking in a tie for No. 6 all-time in school history.
• At the time his career ended he ranked No. 3 among all active FBS players in career tackles for a loss and No. 10 in total sacks.
• Started in 36 consecutive games to close out his career.
• Posted 229 career tackles, 45.5 tackles for a loss, 21.0 sacks, three forced fumbles, five quarterback hurries and two interceptions.
• Recorded 10 or more tackles in seven different games in his career.
Alex Fifita - Atlanta Falcons
• 2015 second-team All-Mountain and 2013 All-MW honorable mention.
• Made 32 starts (26 consecutive) and played in 47 games.
• Was not called for a holding penalty in 2015 and was flagged for a false start twice.
Claudell Louis - Buffalo Bills
• 2015 All-Mountain West honorable mention.
• Started all 12 games at defensive end in 2015.
• As a junior-transfer, played in 26 of 26 career games.
• Owned the eighth-most sacks (5.0) by a defensive linemen in the Mountain West in 2015.
• His 47 tackles in 2015 tied for the eighth-most among all defensive linemen in the MW.
Garrett Swanson - Arizona Cardinals
• Played in a 2016 senior class high, 52 games.
• 2014 All-Mountain West honorable mention.
• Owned a career average 41.8 yards per punt on 202 career attempts.
• Single-season average high was in 2014 with 43.1 yards per punt - ranks No. 6 for best avg. in school history.
• Three of his 67 punts in 2015 went for touchback and 18 were downed inside the 20.
Marteze Waller - Two minicamp invites: Green Bay Packers, Cleveland Browns
• Recorded 3,108 career yards - fourth-most in school history.
• 2014 second-team All-Mountain West.
• Ranked No. 15 in FBS football for single-season yardage in 2014 with 1,368 yards.
• Single-game high for yards was 164, at Boise State in 2014.
• Started 26 games and played in 47.
Charles Washington - Detroit Lions
• Made 38 starts and played in 50 games.
• Recorded 202 career tackles and 14.0 for a loss.
• Owned three career interceptions.
• Used as a multi-purpose defensive back - starting 24 games at safety, 13 at cornerback and one at nickleback.
Kyrie Wilson - Oakland Raiders
• Made 38 starts and played in 51 games.
• Posted 278 career tackles - No. 11 in school history.
• Registered 17.0 career tackles for a loss and 4.5 career sacks.
• Single-game high for tackles was 13, set at the 2014 season opener at USC.
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