The Daily Campus

Issue date: 4/28/08 Section: Sports

Media Credit: Dan Gindraux Tyvon Branch will bring his kick returning and coverage skills to Oakland next season.

It only took four years for Donald Thomas to rise from a walk-on player who hadn't played football in almost four years to an NFL prospect.

But his wait to finally get to the pros wasn't such a breeze.

"I was just sitting here hoping, praying and sweating," Thomas said.

But after waiting almost 12 hours for his phone to ring, the Miami Dolphins called and told him they were making going to make his dream come true with the 195th pick in the NFL Draft.

Although it came later than most expected, Thomas and cornerback/kick returner Tyvon Branch were both selected on Day 2 of the two-day college football amateur draft.

Thomas was taken by the Dolphins with the 29th selection of round six, while the Oakland Raiders selected Branch with the first pick in the fourth round (100th overall).

"It's unreal. I can't even put it into words," Thomas said. "I can't believe that this is happening and I'm just so happy that this is happening."

The duo's selection marks only the second time in school history two players were selected in the same draft in the modern era, while Branch's selection is the second highest for a UConn player. Linebacker Alfred Fincher holds the mark after being taken with pick No. 82 in the third round of the 2005 draft.

"Overall, I am excited to see this happen for Tyvon and Donald today," said UConn head coach Randy Edsall. "I can guarantee that neither of them were in anyone's Top 195 coming out of high school."

The Raiders, who hadn't selected a player since taking running back Darren McFadden with the No. 4 pick in the draft, traded with the Dallas Cowboys to move up to the top of round four to select the Huskies defensive back.

"It's great for Tyvon and great for our program," Edsall said. "It's also exciting to see the Raiders trade up to draft him because it shows that they really want Tyvon. It's is exciting to see him selected by a franchise with such a great history and tradition and I'm sure he'll do well with the Raiders."

After recording 89 tackles and breaking up a team-high 10 passes on defense, and led the Big East with an average of 28.89 yards per kick return while also adding two in his senior season, Branch's stock soared after an impressive performance at the NFL Combine.

Continued...

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