Terron Armstead arrived at Arkansas-Pine Bluff from Cahokia, Ill, four years ago just wanting to play football in the fall and throw the shot put in the spring.
But his UAPB football coaches always thought Armstead had the kind of ability that would eventually end up making him an NFL Draft pick.
The New Orleans Saints proved them right Friday night, when they selected Armstead in the third round at No. 75 overall.
It made Armstead, a three time second-team All-Southwestern Athletic Conference selection, the first UAPB player drafted since 2003 and at No. 75 overall, he went the highest ever for a Golden Lion.
“The Saints have always been one of the teams I believe I can fit right in with,” Armstead said on a conference call with reporters Friday night. “I’m so excited right now, I really can’t explain my feeling. So anxious to get down to New Orleans and so anxious to put on that black and gold again.”
Armstead was also the first athlete from an Arkansas college to be taken, 21 spots ahead of Arkansas running back Knile Davis.
Armstead was a fixture at left tackle for the Golden Lions for 3 ½ years, entering the starting lineup midway through his true freshman season in 2009 and never leaving while playing 37 career games.
While in high school, some larger schools stopped recruiting him when his ACT score came in late, and he turned down offers from others because UAPB agreed to let him throw the shot put in track and field while also playing football.
He grew into a 6-5, 306-pound standout for the Golden Lions, helping them lead the SWAC in rushing as a senior in 2012 while they won the school’s first outright conference title.
“I never doubted myself,” Armstead said. “I saw myself going big out of high school, but when I didn’t, it kind of punched me a little for a minute. I just kept fighting, trying to get better as a player, learn more about the game and I never doubted myself.”
Armstead will join a Saints team that entered the draft in need offensive linemen. Left tackle Jermon Bushrod - who played at Towson University, which competes at the NCAA FCS level like UAPB - was a fixture at the position for three seasons before signing a five-year deal with the Chicago Bears last month.
Armstead said Friday he’s excited to possibly take that spot while blocking for Saints quarterback Drew Brees, whom he called “one of the greats of all time.”
“I love being on the field,” Armstead said. “I have a problem sitting on the bench. I know I have a lot to learn, and I’m willing and ready to learn as fast as I can, as fast as I possibly can to get on the field.”
He was projected by many to go in the second round that began Friday night. But he had to wait until the 13th pick in the third round to hear his name called. But it still made him UAPB’s highest NFL draftee, five picks ahead of where offensive lineman Courtney Van Buren was taken by the San Diego Chargers in 2003.
Labeled as a “developmental player” by NFL Network analyst Mike Mayock, Armstead turned heads with his performance at the Senior Bowl and then at the NFL Combine, where he ran the 40-yard-dash in 4.71 seconds, the highest for an offensive lineman.
“He is as raw as can be,” Mayock said during the NFL Network’s telecast. “You can essentially redshirt him and he is a starter next year.”
ESPN analysts had the same opinion.
“The guy is a freak in terms of his physical tools,” draft analyst Todd McShay said.
UAPB Coach Monte Coleman said earlier this week that the events of Friday night were always expected.
“When Armstead came to us as a freshman, I made a comment that that kid is going to make some money one day,” said Coleman, who played for 16 seasons with Washington Redskins. “You could even see his ability as a freshman. So what he did is of no surprise to me.”
Sports, Pages 19 on 04/27/2013