University of Pittsburgh Athletics
Brian O'Neill Selected by Minnesota Vikings in NFL Draft
4/27/2018 10:30:00 PM | Football
DALLAS—Offensive lineman Brian O'Neill became Pitt's first selected player in the 2018 NFL Draft when the Minnesota Vikings took him in the second round with the 62nd overall pick Friday evening at AT&T Stadium in Dallas.
O'Neill (Wilmington, Del./Salesianum School) played in 38 games with 37 starts for the Panthers over the last three seasons, featuring at right tackle in 2015 and '16 before starting every game at left tackle and earning first team All-ACC honors in 2017. He also garnered second team All-ACC recognition in 2016 and was SBNation's Piesman Trophy winner that year after rushing for touchdowns against Georgia Tech and Virginia Tech.
Pitt Head Coach Pat Narduzzi on the Vikings selecting Brian O'Neill:
"The Vikings organization not only drafted an outstanding player in Brian O'Neill but also an exceptional person and leader. Incredibly, it was less than three years ago that we asked Brian to move from tight end to tackle just weeks before camp opened. He never hesitated and through hard work made himself an All-ACC offensive lineman and now an NFL Draft pick. As good as he was at Pitt, I really think his best football is ahead of him. We are incredibly proud of Brian tonight."
O'Neill became Pitt's highest offensive line NFL Draft pick in a decade, dating back to 2008 when the Carolina Panthers selected Jeff Otah with the 19th overall pick in the first round.
O'Neill joins an elite fraternity of Pitt offensive linemen selected in the first two rounds of the NFL Draft, which includes Mark May (Washington Redskins, 1981), Jimbo Covert (Chicago Bears, 1983), Bill Fralic (Atlanta Falcons, 1985) and Ruben Brown (Buffalo Bills, 1995), among others.
Rounds four through seven of the 2018 NFL Draft will begin tomorrow at 12 p.m. in Dallas.
#H2P | Twitter | Instagram
O'Neill (Wilmington, Del./Salesianum School) played in 38 games with 37 starts for the Panthers over the last three seasons, featuring at right tackle in 2015 and '16 before starting every game at left tackle and earning first team All-ACC honors in 2017. He also garnered second team All-ACC recognition in 2016 and was SBNation's Piesman Trophy winner that year after rushing for touchdowns against Georgia Tech and Virginia Tech.
"He's got a chance, with his length and athletic ability, to be special."
— Minnesota Vikings (@Vikings) April 28, 2018
- @MikeMayock on @brian_oneill_ #VikingsDraft
??: @NFLonFOX | @nflnetwork pic.twitter.com/oFuUvMxNBO
Pitt Head Coach Pat Narduzzi on the Vikings selecting Brian O'Neill:
"The Vikings organization not only drafted an outstanding player in Brian O'Neill but also an exceptional person and leader. Incredibly, it was less than three years ago that we asked Brian to move from tight end to tackle just weeks before camp opened. He never hesitated and through hard work made himself an All-ACC offensive lineman and now an NFL Draft pick. As good as he was at Pitt, I really think his best football is ahead of him. We are incredibly proud of Brian tonight."
Congratulations to @brian_oneill_! We are proud of you!! #PittMan #H2P pic.twitter.com/Uxkv0c2X4t
— Pat Narduzzi (@CoachDuzzPittFB) April 28, 2018
O'Neill became Pitt's highest offensive line NFL Draft pick in a decade, dating back to 2008 when the Carolina Panthers selected Jeff Otah with the 19th overall pick in the first round.
O'Neill joins an elite fraternity of Pitt offensive linemen selected in the first two rounds of the NFL Draft, which includes Mark May (Washington Redskins, 1981), Jimbo Covert (Chicago Bears, 1983), Bill Fralic (Atlanta Falcons, 1985) and Ruben Brown (Buffalo Bills, 1995), among others.
Rounds four through seven of the 2018 NFL Draft will begin tomorrow at 12 p.m. in Dallas.
#H2P | Twitter | Instagram
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