Former USD football defensive stars Jack Cochrane and Elijah Reed prepare for the NFL
It "wasn't looking good" for former South Dakota safety Elijah Reed. The Jets had made contact before the draft started, and his agent had been in contact with a few more, but he wasn't hearing much.
"A couple of teams were talking to me just, you know, it's really just contact," Reed said. "They were reaching out and showing interest just to keep in touch."
But after the draft finished this weekend, New York returned to offer him a spot at its rookie minicamp. The team his Dad, who is from New York, grew up rooting for gave him his first chance as a pro. Right before him, his fellow-defensive star on one of the best South Dakota defenses in years, Jack Cochrane, signed a undrafted free agent deal with the Kansas City Chiefs.
It marked the end of one long journey for the Coyotes alumni, and the start of something bigger: With rookie minicamps set to begin in the week, Reed and Cochrane look to play their way into a growing contingent USD and Missouri Valley Football Conference alumni in the NFL.
"It's definitely going to be important to go in there and be a really competitive dude, and learn things as quickly as possible," Cochrane said.
More: Several South Dakota college players earn place on NFL teams on final day of NFL Draft
Cochrane had a few options Saturday, of which "was a busy afternoon." His and his agent's phone was active all day and a few options materialized. His deal with Kansas City netted him $150,000 in guaranteed money, and Cochrane has real expectations of making the roster.
"Me and my agent felt like it was a great situation for me," Cochrane said. "Had a really great relationship with the coaches... And just looking at the roster and felt like I was a spot where I could I could go in and compete."
Reed's situation is different. His deal with the Jets is just an invite to their rookie mini-camp, which means he needs to impress in order to land a spot on the Jets or any other team's training camp roster. Reed is wary of some of the questions teams had, one he mentioned being the inconsistencies in his playing weight, but he said he's going "to show the Jets that I could play."
More: Chris Oladokun of South Dakota State drafted in 7th round by Pittsburgh Steelers
Reed and Cochrane have both tapped into their NFL contacts (Tampa Bay lineman Tristan Wirfs and others for Cochrane and Denver Broncos running back Phillip Lindsay and some others for Reed), as well as keeping touch with several of the pro prospects they trained with throughout the process. Both have touched base with former South Dakota quarterback Chris Streveler, who parlayed his time at USD into a still-active career as an NFL backup.
The Missouri Valley Football Conference saw nine players get drafted between Thursday and Saturday and plenty more signed deals after the draft. Cochrane and Reed knew already that they came from "high-level football." Now, Reed said, they just need "to do something that makes you stand out."
"I think if you ask people around the league they'll say everyone's path is going to be a little bit different," Cochrane said. "But definitely seeing guys from our level and from this area, make it and be successful. gives you that extra kick but you know, I'm confident in what I can do. I have no doubts about that."
On Tuesday, fellow USD linebacker DeJaun Cooper signed an undrafted free agent deal with the Carolina Panthers. Cooper had three sacks in his o
DeJaun Cooper, who recorded 3 sacks and 4 TFL in his one season in Vermillion, confirms UDFA deal with the Carolina Panthers. First reported by
@Schultz_Report
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Follow Sioux Falls Argus Leader reporter Michael McCleary on Twitter @mikejmccleary.
This article originally appeared on Sioux Falls Argus Leader: USD football's Jack Cochrane and Elijah Reed prepare for the NFL
