Isaiah Rodgers had to leave the room. The UMass senior cornerback was surrounded by friends and family on Saturday as the NFL Draft was nearing its end.
He had yet to hear his name and needed some space.
“I wanted to get away,” Rodgers said. “I was on the phone a lot and I just wanted to step away.”
Rodgers was with his cousin, NFL veteran Dominique Rodgers-Cromartie, when his phone rang one more time. It was Indianapolis Colts coach Frank Reich.
“When I got the call it was from a different area code so I knew it was one of them type of calls,” Rodgers said. “I didn’t have the number saved so I didn’t know it was the coach at the time, but after talking to him and getting it from them, I was overly excited.”
The Colts selected the 5-foot-10 Rodgers with the 211th pick in the sixth round of the NFL Draft. Indianapolis traded cornerback Quincy Wilson to the New York Jets for the rights to that selection.
“It was a long nerve-racking day, just sitting around with family wondering when someone was actually going to pull the trigger,” Rodgers said. “You keep having your phone ring from your agent, just dealing with the process and knowing that your time is going to come.”
The very moment that @rodgers_isaiah has worked years to reach
Watch the 2020 @NFLDraft on NFLN/ESPN/ABC#Flagship🚩 pic.twitter.com/S2D7DpmBNT
— UMass Football (@UMassFootball) April 25, 2020
The Colts positioned themselves to take Rodgers by trading with the New England Patriots. Colts general manager Chris Ballard sent a sixth-round pick (No. 182) to the Patriots for their two compensatory selections (No. 212 and 213). Compensatory picks are awarded to teams for losing players to free agency during the previous offseason. The Colts took Rodgers at 211, Washington State receiver Dezmon Patmon at 212 and Michigan linebacker Jordan Glasgow at 213.
Ballard met with the media in a video conference call after the draft.
“He’s got rare speed and he’s an explosive returner, and he takes away the ball,” Ballard said of Rodgers. “To be able to get those extra picks — we thought we’d have a chance to acquire him — gave us the opportunity to do it.”
Rodgers is the 30th all-time UMass draft selection and the fifth of the program’s FBS era (2012-present). Wide receiver Andy Isabella was drafted in the second round by the Arizona Cardinals last year.
“We were all so happy to see Isaiah’s name!” UMass coach Walt Bell said in a statement. “Isaiah has a great story of perseverance here and he worked extremely hard to turn this dream into reality. He played nearly every single snap on defense and special teams for us this season and brought a positive mindset every day. He did it all for us, on defense and as an elite kick returner, and showed veteran leadership on an incredibly young team last season. I’m proud of him and I cannot wait to see him playing on Sundays!”
Due to the COVID-19 pandemic, Rodgers will stay in touch virtually with the Colts until he and all other draft picks get cleared to travel.
Sooo, new #Colts CB Isaiah Rodgers can return kicks pretty well pic.twitter.com/9RbkPUHEMy
— Faraz (@BrownMamba13) April 27, 2020
“We’re going to have a virtual meeting and virtual workouts,” Rodgers said. “We’re controlling what we can control right know during this time.”
Rodgers had a standout four-year career for UMass. As a senior, he had 42 tackles, four interceptions and 10 pass breakups over 12 games. He had 53 kick returns for 1,295 yards, which led the FBS and earned him All-American status by Pro Football Focus.
The Tampa, Florida, native came in as a true freshman and contributed for the Minutemen. He is confident he can do the same for the Colts.
“Knowing that I have that underdog mentality, I’m always ready to go in, whether they promise me a starting spot or not, I’m always willing to go in and make plays and do the best I can to get on the field,” Rodgers said. “With that mindset that I know I can possibly do it, because I did it from high school to college, I have that same mentality going in (to the NFL) and I’m more experienced now, smarter, faster and strong.”
DRISCOLL PICKED — Former UMass offensive lineman Jack Driscoll was drafted in the fourth round (No. 145) by the Philadelphia Eagles on Saturday.
Driscoll, who transferred to Auburn, played 1,690 pass-block snaps and allowed four quarterback hits for the Tigers, according to Pro Football Focus.
“It’s an incredible honor to be apart of such a storied franchise #FlyEaglesFly,” Driscoll tweeted.
The 6-foot-5, 306-pound lineman is from Madison, Connecticut. He played in 21 games from 2016 to 2017 for the Minutemen. He earned his degree in three years before transferring to Auburn for his final two seasons of eligibility.
“He’s a great athlete and made a great decision for him and his family to head off to Auburn,” Rodgers said of his former teammate. “Seeing his name pop up, I got excited. I contacted him as soon as I saw it.”
WILLISTON TO BALTIMORE — Former Williston Northampton wide receiver Michael “Mookie” Dereus signed an undrafted free agent contract with the Baltimore Ravens.
The 6-foot-1, 210-pound Georgetown graduate had 41 catches for a team-high 726 yards this past season. He had five receiving touchdowns over 11 games and was named All-Patriot League First Team.
The Hyde Park native finished his four-year college career with 115 catches, 1,879 yards receiving and 13 touchdowns over 40 games.