It only makes sense that two best friends would live out their dreams together on the same night.
Many believed that Geno Smith would go early in the first round but when it was all said and done, the first round only saw one quarterback get drafted. Smith sat in the green room for the entire first round, with cameras pointed in his face, while he waited patiently to live out his dreams. His best friend, Stedman Bailey, sat with Smith’s family as he awaited his teammate’s future. When Smith wasn’t chosen on the first night of the draft, Bailey made the trip back home to be with his own family.
But that didn’t mean that Bailey still wasn’t filled with joy when his best friend walked across the stage in New York City. Bailey promptly tweeted, “My dawg made it man! I ain’t even gone lie I’m in tears!!”
Smith was selected with the 39th overall pick by the New York Jets, a team who could’ve taken him early in the first round. Smith becomes the highest drafted quarterback in WVU’s history. Former WVU great and current Washington Redskin quarterback, Pat White, previously held the mark when he was drafted 44th overall.
Smith will likely compete for the starting job after lackluster quarterback play from Mark Sanchez last season. The Jets currently have Sanchez, Tim Tebow, David Garrard, and Greg McElroy on the roster, but rumors have been circulating about an imminent Sanchez trade.
After sharing in Smith’s excitement, Bailey got his chance to get in on the fun. Towards the end of the third round, with the 92nd overall pick, the St Louis Rams pulled the trigger on their second receiver of the draft and their second receiver from WVU and selected Bailey.
Bailey will join his former WVU teammate Tavon Austin, who was drafted by the Rams with the 8th overall pick Thursday night. The tandem have already began to cause fans to bring back the phrase, “The Greatest Show on Turf”, referring to the great trio of running back Marshall Faulk, and receivers Torry Holt and Isaac Bruce.
Looking ahead to the rest of the draft, players like Terrence Garvin, Josh Francis, and Jeff Braun are hoping to hear their name called and join their teammates Smith, Bailey and Austin in the NFL history books.
