Cavalier Corner

June 2014

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Virginia center Luke Bowanko, of- fensive tackle Morgan Moses and defensive lineman Brent Urban were selected in the 2014 NFL Draft. Bowanko, picked on the draft's third day in the sixth round by the Jackson- ville Jaguars, spent a good part of the day playing golf with his dad. "When I got the call, it was just me, my parents and my little brother, and the dog," he said. "The dog didn't have any idea what was going on." The pick reunites former teammates Bowanko and Austin Pasztor. Who played together on the offensive line at UVa, in Jacksonville. Pasztor signed with Minnesota as an undrafted free agent in 2012 and was cut by the Vi- kings just before the season began. He was claimed by the Jaguars that same season and emerged as a first-teamer last year with 12 starts. "[Pasztor] shot me a text just con- gratulating me," Bowanko noted at his post-draft press conference. "I've always looked up to Austin; I played with him my first year starting and he's kind of a role model for me." Bowanko started 37 games at UVa, seeing time at right guard, left guard and center. He is the first UVa center drafted since John St. Clair went to St. Louis in 2000. Jaguars assistant director of player personnel Andy Dengler said his club got "good value" for the pick with Bowanko and said he expects the for- mer Hoo to "compete for the starting position." "He played both center and guard at UVa," Dengler noted. "He's a fifth-year senior, third-year starter, high character, very foot- ball intelligent. Even this year, he started the first four games at guard, moved back to center." Urban was tabbed by the Baltimore Ravens in the fourth round with the 134th overall pick. The first UVa defensive tackle drafted since Monsanto Pope in 2002, his pick was also the earliest for a Cavalier defensive tackle since Ron Gassert was taken with the 56th pick in 1962. Director of college scouting Joe Hortiz said the Raven scouts had been tracking Urban since fall two-a-days and felt Baltimore got a "potential starter down the road" for their sys- tem. "He was a guy that we really liked throughout the whole process, start- ing in the fall," Hortiz recalled. "You loved his motor, his competitiveness and really how he played on the early film." Moses was the first Cavalier selected, going in the third round (66th overall) to the Washington Redskins. A career starter and All-ACC performer, Moses started 43 games at Virginia at both tackles and guard. Moses was targeted as a potential first-round selection and endured some down time when his name wasn't called on day one, but said he was excited to get the good news on day two. "It was a crazy wait," he said, "but I'm just happy to have the opportunity to have my name called, walk across that stage and put that hat on." First-year Washington head coach Jay Gruden said Moses has "major up- side" and he's ready to get to work nurturing that upside. "I think he has got a lot of room to develop," Gruden told the media in a post selection presser. "He can de- velop some foot quickness, but the one thing you can't coach is his length and his size. When he starts, when he plays will be to be determined, but we are excited to work with a young, big, athletic kid like Morgan." "It's obviously a great thing being alongside pro bowl tackle Trent Wil- liams and being able to block for RGIII [quarterback Robert Griffin III]," Moses said of being taken by the Redskins. "It's a blessing to be able to have that." — Greg Waters CAVALIERSPORTS behind the scenes UVA IN THE NFL DRAFT MORGAN MOSES i11-14.Cavalier Sports.indd 1 6/3/14 4:40 PM

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