Saints' All-American gets chance in NFL

The next time Darius Price puts on a football uniform, it will be for the Tampa Bay Buccaneers.

The Siena Heights University All-American has received a formal invitation to the Buccaneers' rookie camp that starts in two weeks.

"They are giving me a shot," an excited Price said Sunday morning.

Price went undrafted in the seven-round NFL Draft held Thursday-Saturday, but that didn't ruin his chance of catching on with a professional team. By late Saturday — only a few hours after the draft — Price's agent had been contacted by four NFL teams who were interested in the 6-foot-2, 215-pound Price coming to their rookie camp.

"Although I didn't get drafted, for the fact that I was being considered as a potential seventh-rounder was a good experience," Price said. "I know my opportunity is still there. That's the good thing about this process."

The Saginaw native spent four years at Siena Heights and grew into a professional football prospect. Before his junior year began, Saints head coach Matt Kohn was touting Price as someone who had a chance to play at the next level. By the start of his senior season, NFL scouts were contacting Kohn about watching Price in a workout or at a preseason practice. Some came with measuring sticks and clipboards, taking a look at what the versatile defensive back was all about. Many left impressed.

"He left quite a legacy at Siena Heights," Kohn said. "He has a tremendous opportunity in front of him."

After the 2017 season, Price was named Defensive Player of the Year in the Mid-States Football Association Mideast League — a league that has produced multiple All-Americans and six of the past seven national champions. Price became the fourth NAIA All-American in program history, joining tight end Donovan Campbell in 2013 (first team), cornerback Deshawn Gilbert in 2013 (second team) and defensive tackle Kyle Connors in 2014 (first team).

Price was the top vote-getter in the NAIA for the Cliff Harris Award, presented to the top defensive player in NCAA Division II, Division III and the NAIA.

Since the season and classes ended, Price signed with an agent and began a rigorous training program to prepare him for NFL workouts. He was invited to a small-school showcase and later worked out for scouts at the University of Michigan pro day. He missed an invite to the NFL Combine, but heard from several teams that he had a chance to be drafted late Saturday. That call never came, but Price is still focused on the next step in his career.

"I wasn't nervous," he said. "I did think it was going to happen, but I knew I wasn't going to be upset if it didn't."

Within two hours after the draft, the Buccaneers, New York Giants, San Diego Chargers and Chicago Bears all contacted Price's representation and said he was on their potential invite list. The Buccaneers extended the formal invitation for him to come to the rookie camp.  After that three-day camp ends, the Buccaneers will choose which rookies to keep in camp and join a full team volunteer work out.

Price will work out in the Buccaneers' new, 100,000-square-foot indoor practice facility that just opened midway through the 2017 season. It was a big move for the team who had for years practice outdoors in the Florida heat.

"I'm just focused and working hard for this chance," Price said. "I'm excited for the next level."

Courtesy of: Doug Donnelly, Daily Telegram Sports Writer