Weston Richburg will be a long way from home. After growing up in the small town of Bushland, Texas (pop. 1,000), the former Colorado State center will now call the Big Apple home after being selected by the New York Giants with the 43rd overall pick in the 2014 NFL Draft Friday night.
“I couldn’t be more excited to snap to Eli Manning,” Richburg said of playing with the two-time Super Bowl champion in a statement through the University. “I’m honored to have an opportunity to play for such a successful organization.”
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Richburg, who started a school-record 50 consecutive games, becomes Colorado State’s 100th player picked in the annual draft and their first since fellow offenslive lineman Shelley Smith in 2010. He is also only the ninth Ram player to be selected in the first two rounds, and the highest overall pick since quarterback Kelly Stouffer was selected sixth overall by the Arizona Cardinals in 1987.
“This was well deserved,” Head Coach Jim McElwain said in a statement. “He’s a guy that came in here and really jumped right into the system and the program. I can’t express how proud I am of him. Being picked in the second round is really saying something. We obviously thought he was something special, and the people in the National Football League must think the same.”
Over the past four seasons, Richburg blocked for 7,765 rushing yards and 140 total offensive touchdowns. He earned first-team All-Mountain West honors in 2013 after earning honorable mention in 2012 and second-team honors in 2011. As a freshman, Richburg was also named a first-team Freshman All-America center by college football analyst Phil Steele and CollegeFootballNews.com.
Stay with collegian.com over the next three days for all of your NFL Draft news regarding Richburg as well as fellow former Rams Kapri Bibbs, Crockett Gillmore, and Shaquille Barrett.
Collegian Reporter Keegan Pope can be reached at sports@collegian.com and on Twitter @kpopecollegian.
