Being drafted by an NFL team and seeing your life change before your eyes is obviously an emotional moment for anyone, and that includes Gainesville native Darcel McBath.
The former Texas Tech cornerback-turned-safety, was drafted on Saturday by the Denver Broncos with the 48th pick in the NFL draft, the 16th pick in the second round.
Watching with his family and friends in Gainesville, McBath readily admits he was brought to tears when he heard his name called, as he told the Fort Worth Star-Telegram. He was obviously a hometown hero as he spent time back in Gainesville before the draft.
Not bad for a kid who didn't even play high school football until his junior season.
But once he started, boy was he good.
McBath was a do-it-all superstar for the Gainesville Leopards, and was a key part of the Class 3A Division I state championship win over Burnet, a team that featured Cowboys draftee, quarterback Stephen McGee and Texas receiver Jordan Shipley.
Now, it's off to Denver for McBath, who will participate in his first rookie mini-camp this weekend. He'll join a loaded secondary corps, featuring former Eagles safety Brian Dawkins and one of the league's all-time great cover corners in Champ Bailey. The Broncos also drafted Wake Forest cornerback Alphonso Smith, who was one of the six players tied with McBath for the nation's lead in interceptions with seven.
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So is McBath ready to make the transition from big-time college football to the best of the best in the NFL? He think so.
"I played some of the best receivers in the country, [against teams that] passed on almost every down," McBath told the Star-Telegram. "I think I’ll be prepared in that aspect. I’ll definitely be ready to defend the pass. I got the best of [No. 10 overall pick, former Tech receiver Michael Crabtree] most of the time."
Adam Boedeker is a sports writer/award-winning blogger for the Denton Record-Chronicle. He's ready for a short break because of swine flu.
