For the two Ivy Leaguers who had a legitimate chance to hear their name called in last weekend's NFL Draft, the one who was drafted fell far from his predicted place, and the other was not drafted at all.
But both somehow ended up in the same place.
Cornerback Duvol Thompson, who helped lead Penn to two Ivy League titles in his four seasons, was signed Monday by the St. Louis Rams.
"I really wasn't expecting to get drafted," Thompson said, but added that he "was expecting to sign," and was not at all disappointed.
Instead, the 5-foot-9 Thompson said that he "can't wait to get out there and make [the] team" and is looking to prove himself in mini-camp. He will be trying to impress the Rams' coaches on special teams first, and then will look to move his way up the depth chart.
Thompson joins a St. Louis secondary that has nine other players, including three other rookies, cornerback Ronald Bartell of Howard, and safeties Oshiomogho Atogwe from Stanford and Jerome Carter from Florida State.
The 10-man secondary is a relatively low number for NFL teams to have going into mini-camps, and Thompson is mindful of that.
He also said that the Rams play a number of defensive backs during the course of any game, so he may have a decent chance at making the team.
"We'll see how the situation pans out," he said.
Thompson will be joined in St. Louis by former Harvard quarterback Ryan Fitzpatrick. The only Ivy Leaguer drafted was picked by the Rams with a compensatory pick in the seventh and final round. Fitzpatrick was the 250th overall pick.
He was projected by some to go in the fourth or fifth rounds, but no team took him.
He could not be reached for comment after the Draft.
Thompson last played with Fitzpatrick as one of the Ivy League's two representatives in January's Hula Bowl, and is excited to play with him again.
"I feel pretty good," Thompson said about lining up in practice against his former collegiate foe.
The only other Ivy Leaguers who have signed contracts with NFL teams are a pair from Yale.
Offensive lineman Rory Hennessey signed with the Detroit Lions and wide receiver Ralph Plumb signed with the Oakland Raiders.
