FOXBOROUGH — Wide receiver Tajae Sharpe, who caught at least one pass in every game he played during a record-setting career at the University of Massachusetts, was taken Saturday with the first pick of the fifth round by the Tennessee Titans.
Sharpe, who went No. 140 overall, had an inkling he’d be a fit there after meeting with the Titans.
“I had a workout with them and it went very well, we had great conversations in the meeting room. I’m not surprised that I ended up here, because I love the Tennessee Titans, and I felt like they loved what they saw out of me,’’ Sharpe said in a conference call with Titans media. “I’m just blessed to be part of the Tennessee Titans. I can’t wait to get to Nashville and get to work.’’
Sharpe caught 115 passes as a senior, the most in college football’s top division. He led UMass in receptions each of his final three seasons, finishing with a school-record 281 in his career, for 3,486 yards and 16 touchdowns. Twice he was named All-Mid American Conference, and he was a second-team All-American as a senior.
Now he’ll be catching passes from Marcus Mariota.
“Catching passes from a former Heisman Trophy winner sounds great to me. He’s a young guy as well, so I want to get our chemistry going as soon as we can,’’ said Sharpe, the highest NFL Draft pick from UMass since Vlad Ducasse went to the Jets in the second round in 2010. “I look forward to facing the best competition there is. That’s something I had to hear throughout my whole college career, playing at UMass in a small school in the MAC, and not playing the top competition every single week. But we played in some big games, and I showed up in every single one.’’
Sharpe wasn’t the only local player selected Saturday. Harvard tackle Cole Toner also went in the fifth round, a compensatory pick of the Cardinals at No. 170.
“I love the way he competed at the Senior Bowl. He has position flexibility, and he’s obviously very smart,’’ Cardinals coach Bruce Arians said of Toner. “We feel like he’s a three-position guy. When you dress only seven linemen on Sundays, he’ll compete because of position flexibility.’’
Boston College linebacker Steven Daniels went to the Redskins in the seventh round (No.?232 overall), and Trevor Bates, a linebacker from Maine, was selected by the Colts in the seventh round at No. 239.
Justin Simmons, a safety from Boston College, was taken Friday in the third round by the Broncos.
After the draft, BC defensive end Connor Wujciak signed with the Eagles, while Harvard offensive lineman Anthony Fabiano agreed to terms with the Ravens.
According to tweets and media reports, among those agreeing to deals after the draft included BC defensive end Connor Wujciak (Eagles), Harvard offensive lineman Anthony Fabiano (Ravens), Harvard tight end Ben Braunecker (Bears), UMass cornerback Randall Jette (Packers), and UMass receiver Marken Michel (Vikings). UMass quarterback Blake Frohnapfel agreed to a rookie tryout offer from the Colts.
