Slippery Rock's Brandon Fusco was one of two PSAC players selected on Saturday in the NFL draft.
Photo and video links courtesy of Slippery Rock Sports Information.
Information from Slippery Rock and California Sports Information used in this story
All-time PSAC NFL draft picks (pdf)
Fusco Photo Gallery
Fusco Video
Minnesota Vikings Fusco Page
Tennessee Titans Campbell Interview
Two football student-athletes from the PSAC were selected on Saturday in the NFL draft. Slippery Rock senior center Brandon Fusco was picked by the Minnesota Vikings in the sixth round while California senior safety Tommie Campbell was picked in the seventh round by the Tennessee Titans.
With the duo being selected, it marked the first time since 1996 that two PSAC players have been picked in the same draft. That year, Kutztown's John Mobley was selected in the first round by the Denver Broncos, the only player in PSAC history to be picked in the first round, and IUP's Chris Villarrial was selected in the fifth round by the Chicago Bears.
With the two selections, it marks the second straight year that at least one player from a PSAC school has heard his name called in the NFL draft. IUP's Akwasi Owusu-Ansah was drafted in the fourth round by the Dallas Cowboys last year, which marked the first draft pick from the PSAC since 2006.
Fusco was selected with the seventh pick of the sixth round and was the 172nd overall pick, becoming the highest drafted player in Slippery Rock program history and becoming the first player drafted since 1989.
“I’m just so happy the process is over,” said an emotional Fusco. “I thought I might go a little earlier in the day, so it was hard sitting and waiting, but I was so excited when my phone rang. I’m really happy to be a Viking.”
Campbell was picked with the 48th selection of the seventh round, a compensatory pick, and was the 251st overall pick, the fourth-to-last of the draft. He becomes just the second player in California history to be drafted and the first since Judson Flint in 1979, who was also picked in the seventh round. The Aliquippa, Pa. native played just one season for the Vulcans in 2010, helping the Vulcans to their fourth straight NCAA playoff berth. He also played for Edinboro during the 2007 season.
In his one year at Cal U, Campbell appeared in all 12 games with four starts at cornerback after being out of football the last two seasons. He posted 29 tackles (17 solo) with two interceptions, both coming against Bloomsburg in the NCAA Playoffs.
Campbell, who started his career by playing two seasons at Pittsburgh (2005-06), played in both the Cactus Bowl and inaugural Eastham Energy All-Star Game in January. At the Cactus Bowl, he started at cornerback and finished third on the team with five tackles (three solo).
Fusco received the call Saturday afternoon after nearly three and a half hours of waiting, and was told he would be selected with the Vikings’ upcoming pick. Surrounded by family, friends and his coaches at Ginger Hill Tavern in Slippery Rock, Fusco announced he was going to the Vikings before the pick was shown on the tv screens.
The crowd of nearly 200 close family and friends erupted with cheers as Fusco’s name was announced.
With the NFL Lockout situation still unresolved, Fusco must wait to report to the Vikings or to negotiate any sort of contract.
His selection in the NFL Draft caps what has become one of the most storied senior seasons for any Slippery Rock player in the program’s prestigious history. Fusco was named to first team All-America honors by D2football.com, the American Football Coaches Association, Daktronics and Don Hansen’s Football Gazette. He was also named the recipient of the Gene Upshaw Division II Lineman of the Year Award and the Dave Rimington Award winner as the top center in Division II and earned Associated Press Little All-America honors. He then became the first Slippery Rock player ever invited to the Under Armour Senior Bowl and the NFL Combine.
Fusco is the second lineman and the fifth overall player to be drafted out of Slippery Rock. Jay Cullin was SRU’s first NFL draft pick as a defensive end in 1967. The next three Rock players selected in the NFL Draft were all running backs: Ricky Porter (1982), Chuck Sanders (1986) and Greg Paterra (1989).
Cullin was drafted by the Oakland Raiders in the 17th round as the 436th overall pick in the 1967 draft but never appeared in an NFL game.
Porter was drafted by the Detroit Lions in the 12th round of the 1982 draft with the 319th overall pick. He played three seasons in the NFL with Detroit, the Baltimore Colts and Buffalo Bills. Porter appeared in 24 career games and compiled 42 rushes for 177 yards, nine catches for 70 yards, 26 kick returns for 559 yards and 14 punt returns for 104 yards.
Sanders was selected by the San Diego Chargers in the 11th round of the 1986 draft with the 293rd overall pick. He played two seasons with the Pittsburgh Steelers, compiling career statistics of 15 rushes for 77 yards and one touchdown, three catches for 30 yards and eight kick returns for 148 yards. He is the only SRU draftee to ever score a touchdown in the NFL.
Paterra was the last player to be drafted out of Slippery Rock and was selected in the 11th round by the Atlanta Falcons with the 286th pick of the 1989 draft. He appeared in 10 games in 1989, when he carried the ball nine times for 32 yards and pulled down five receptions for 42 yards. He made the roster with the Buffalo Bills in 1991, but did not appear in any games.