The South Atlantic Conference Posts a Pair of NFL Draft Picks

Mars Hill's Goode Drafted by Colts

MARS HILL, N.C. – Denzell Goode was drafted in the seventh round in the National Football League Draft by the Indianapolis Colts Saturday afternoon. Goode becomes only the third player in Mars Hill history to be drafted into the NFL.

Mars Hill Head Football Coach Tim Clifton stated, "Denzell is a big guy who has unbelievable feet and is very quick for his size. We are excited for him, his family and Mars Hill University."

After the 2014 campaign, Goode earned second team DAKTRONICS All-Region honors as well as second team BSN All-Super Region II accolades. He was also named to the Don Hansen All-Super Region Two team squad in 2014. He has been chosen to the All-SAC first team for the past two seasons. Goode was a key part of an offensive line that opened holes for Jamel Harbison who rushed for 1,204 yards last season averaging 120.4 yards per game. Those numbers placed Harbison second in the league. Goode also helped the Lions' passing attack that also finished second in the league, averaging 215 yards per game.

Good becomes the third Lion player drafted by the NFL.  Jeff Davis was a 17^th round pick as a running back/punter by the Washington Redskins in 1973; Khalid Abdullah was drafted as a linebacker in the fifth round by the Cincinnati Bengals in 2003. Michael Grant was signed as a free agent by the Cleveland Browns in 2004 as defensive back.

Newberry's Edmond Robinson Selected as 232nd Pick in 2015 NFL Draft by Minnesota Vikings

CHICAGO - Newberry College graduate Edmond Robinson has been selected in the 2015 National Football League Draft as the 232nd overall pick in the seventh round by the Minnesota Vikings.

Robinson is the first NCAA Division II player taken in this year's NFL Draft.

Robinson is a December 2014 graduate of Newberry College and a native of Wadmalaw Island, S.C., and St. John's HS alumnus.

Robinson is the first Newberry alumnus selected in the NFL Draft since 1974, when Greg Hartle was selected as the 251st overall pick in the 10th round by the then-St. Louis Cardinals.

He is the fourth Newberry alumnus drafted overall.

Robinson is now the fourth Newberry alumnus currently in the NFL. He joins Newberry alumnus and tight end Brandon Bostick in Minnesota. Kansas City Chiefs cornerback Ron Parker and New York Giants wide receiver Corey Washington are also in the NFL.

Robinson is the first South Atlantic Conference player to be drafted since Wingate cornerback David Jones was picked by the New Orleans Saints in the fifth round of the 2007 draft by the New Orleans Saints.

Robinson was a first team all-South Atlantic Conference selection and East-West Shrine Game participant following his senior season, was Newberry's leading tackler on the season with 68 tackles, 7.5 tackles for loss, five pass breakups, two fumble recoveries and a quarterback hurry

He had a season-best 13 tackles in the Homecoming game against Lenoir-Rhyne and 11 tackles in the season finale at North Greenville. His 52 solo stops ranked second in the conference, while his two fumble recoveries ranked him in the top five in the league.

Robinson earned first team all-SAC honors for two consecutive years and was also a DAKTRONICS first team all-Super Region Two honoree as a junior in 2013.

Following his December graduation, Robinson participated in the East-West Shrine Game in St. Petersburg, Fla., and the NFL Combine in Indianapolis. He was one of two Division II players at each of those events.

Caushaud Lyons of Tusculum Signs Preferred Free Agent Deal with Tampa Bay Buccaneers

CHICAGO --- Tusculum College defensive end Caushaud Lyons has signed a preferred free agent contract with the Tampa Bay Buccaneers following the conclusion of the 2015 National Football League Draft.

Lyons, a 6-5, 295-pound senior from Ellenwood, Georgia, was a consensus NCAA Division II All-American in 2014 while accounting for one of the finest seasons ever by a TC defensive lineman.  He led the Pioneers with 89 tackles, which are a new program single-season record for a defensive lineman.  Of those stops, 19 were for loss, which are the second most in TC history and most by a Pioneer lineman. His 1.5 tackles for loss per game average led the South Atlantic Conference and were 40th in the country.

Lyons becomes the 27th Pioneer during head coach Frankie DeBusk's watch to ink a professional contract and the fifth to join the NFL ranks, including wide receivers Kevin Wolcott (Tennessee Titans) and Rashaad Carter (Baltimore Ravens), offensive lineman Alan Dunn (Tampa Bay Buccaneers) and defensive back Ricardo Colclough (Pittsburgh Steelers, Cleveland Browns, Kansas City Chiefs, Carolina Panthers).  Colclough's NFL run was the most successful as he was drafted in 2004 by the Steelers in the second round.  He played in six NFL seasons, which included a Super Bowl XL title with Pittsburgh.

The 2014 consensus All-Region pick averaged 8.1 tackles per game, which are most in the South Atlantic Conference and Super Region 2 for defensive linemen and fourth most in the nation (NCAA II).  His 8.1 tackles for loss are third in the league overall.  The All-SAC first team selection also averaged 0.77 sacks per contest, which is second in the conference and 38th in NCAA II.

This fall he recorded 10 or more tackles on four occasions, including a career-high 15 stops against Carson-Newman.  A week later, he posted seven tackles, including four for loss and two sacks in Tusculum's 14-10 road win at Wingate.  Against the Bulldogs, he made five quarterback hurries and broke up a pass.  He was named the SAC Defensive Player of the Week and the Tennessee Sports Writers Association College Player of the Week.

Lyons wrapped up his collegiate career with 181 tackles, which are a new Tusculum record for a defensive lineman.  His 28 career tackles for loss are 10th in school history and second most by a TC lineman.  His 13 career sacks are tied for seventh in program history (3rd for defensive lineman).  He also was credited for two forced fumbles, two fumble recoveries and four passes defended, including an interception.

Lyons finished one of eight national finalists for the Gene Upshaw Award, which recognizes the top NCAA Division II lineman in the country.  He was also national finalist for the Cliff Harris Award, which honors the top small college defensive player of the year for NCAA Division II, Division III and NAIA.