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Trae Waynes drafted alongside other Spartans to NFL

May 3, 2015
<p>Then-junior cornerback Trae Waynes, 15, celebrates his game deciding interception with junior safety Kurtis Drummond, 27, and sophomore safety Demetrious Cox, 7, during the game against Nebraska on Oct. 4, 2014, at Spartan Stadium. Waynes was drafted to the NFL this year. Raymond Williams/The State News</p>

Then-junior cornerback Trae Waynes, 15, celebrates his game deciding interception with junior safety Kurtis Drummond, 27, and sophomore safety Demetrious Cox, 7, during the game against Nebraska on Oct. 4, 2014, at Spartan Stadium. Waynes was drafted to the NFL this year. Raymond Williams/The State News

Photo by Raymond Williams | The State News

For the 49th consecutive year, a former MSU football player heard their name called in this year's NFL draft.

This year started off similar to last years draft as a Spartan cornerback was taken in the first round. With the No. 11 pick the Minnesota Vikings selected Trae Waynes who joined Darqueze Dennard as the second MSU corner to get drafted in the first round in as many years.

Vikings head coach Mike Zimmer was in East Lansing for the MSU pro day and must have saw what he liked in Waynes.

Last year's draft was a disappointment after Dennard, as no other Spartans were selected. But this year saw three other MSU players get drafted with four being signed as undrafted free agents.

With the No. 106 overall pick in the fourth round the Chicago Bears selected running back Jeremy Langford. Langford had big shoes to fill with the departure of Le'Veon Bell in 2013, who has since emerged as one of the best backs in the NFL. He made his own path, finishing his career with 16 consecutive 100-yard rushing performances and now he has been rewarded for his efforts.

The No. 156 overall pick saw former MSU wide receiver Tony Lippett drafted as a cornerback to the Miami Dolphins. Lippett saw action as a two-way player in his final season and gained attention as a defensive prospect.

The final Spartan to be taken in the draft was wide receiver Keith Mumphery with the No. 175 overall pick to the Houston Texans. Mumphery becomes the fifth Spartan wide receiver to be drafted in Mark Dantonio's tenure head coach—Devin Thomas went in the second round in 2008 to the Washington Redskins, Keshawn Martin also went to the Texans in 2012 in the fourth round, B.J. Cunningham was also drafted in 2012 going to the Dolphins in the sixth round and Lippett.

Four more former players confirmed free-agent agreements with teams looking to give them a chance— safety Kurtis Drummond also went to the Texans, tight end Andrew Gleichert is with the Philadelphia Eagles, linebacker Taiwan Jones went to the New York Jets and defensive end Marcus Rush will fight to be a San Francisco 49er.

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