A pair of University of Northern Iowa offensive lineman are looking forward to starting their pro careers after being selected during the second day of the NFL Draft. Chad Rinehart was taken in the third round by the Washington Redskins and Brandon Keith was selected in the seventh round by the Arizona Cardinals.
UNI coach Mark Farley says it’s the first time in 32 years two guys have been drafted in the same yearn at the school and says it’s a credit to the coaches. Farley says both players made themselves into what they are today, especially Rinehart, who was 6-5 and 240 pounds when he came out of Boone.
Rinehart says he got the call while watching the draft at his home in Boone. He says he didn’t get to the cellphone in time and then he got a call back on the regular phone. Rinehart says it was the Washington Redskins general manager, and then he put the owner Dan Snyder on the phone. "I was overcome with joy I guess, it was just a dream come true," Rinehart says.
Rinehart says he will leave for Washington later this week for a camp that lasts Thursday through Sunday. Rinehart says he is ready for the challenge of professional football. He trained out in Denver with several guys who were also training for the NFL. Rinehart says his agent played in the NFL and knows it is a job and you have to compete for the job every day.