Three CAA Football Players Taken in NFL Draft
Eric Wieberg
CHICAGO – Three CAA Football players heard their names called on Saturday as the 2015 NFL Draft came to a close. CAA Football’s three selections upped the league’s all-time number to 109 draft picks.
Towson cornerback Tye Smith was the first CAA Football player taken off the board, as he was picked in the fifth round – No. 170 overall – by the Seattle Seahawks. One pick later, Delaware tight end Nick Boyle was drafted by the Baltimore Ravens.
William & Mary receiver Tre McBride became the league’s third selection by going in the seventh round as pick No. 245 to the Tennessee Titans.
CAA Football has now had a total 31 players chosen in the last 10 drafts, and at least two selections every year since 2006.
Tye Smith, Towson CB
Opponents rarely threw in the direction of Smith, who grew into one of the top shutdown corners in CAA Football. He made 42 starts in his four-year career at Towson, including 15 of 16 games in the Tigers’ national runner-up 2013 season.
After earning a spot on the All-CAA Football Second Team as a junior, Smith was voted to the All-Conference First Team in 2014, in addition to All-America selections by the AP, The Sports Network and College Sports News.
Smith’s career numbers at Towson included 248 tackles, six interceptions, 28 breakups, six forced fumbles and four fumble recoveries. Following his 2014 season, Smith was invited to the NFL’s Scouting Combine in Indianapolis.
Nick Boyle, Delaware TE
Boyle finished his career at Delaware as one of the top tight ends in school history. He was named to the All-CAA Football Second Team in 2013 before earning first-team honors in 2014. He was also selected to The Sports Network All-America Second Team as a senior.
Boyle played in 41 games and started 36 at Delaware, finishing with 101 receptions for 984 yards and 12 touchdowns. After seeing limited action in the passing game as a freshman, Boyle caught at least 20 passes in each of his final three seasons.
Following the 2014 season, Boyle was selected to play in January’s Reese’s Senior Bowl, and earned an invitation to the NFL Combine.
Tre McBride, William & Mary WR
By the time his William & Mary career ended, McBride had established himself as one of the top all-purpose athletes in the FCS. He was a three-time All-CAA Football selection at wide receiver, and was named the league’s Special Teams Player of the Year as a junior. McBride also landed on the College Sporting News All-America Team in 2013.
McBride played in 45 games for the Tribe, finishing second in school history with 196 catches, fifth in receiving yards with 2,653, fifth in all-purpose yards with 4,281, fifth in kick return yards with 1,294, and tied for sixth in receiving touchdowns with 19. He averaged 13.5 yards-per-catch and 23.1 yards on kick returns over his career.
Following his 2014 season, McBride participated in the East-West Shrine Game, and secured an invitation to the NFL Combine.