Two Oxford boys were drafted this weekend ? into the National Football League!
Eric Ghiaciuc and Dave Rayner are headed for the exciting, hard-hitting, highly competitive world of pro football.
Ghiaciuc, a 2000 graduate of Oxford High School, was drafted by the Cincinnati Bengals in the fourth round of the 2005 NFL Draft. The 6-foot, 3-inch, 298-pound Central Michigan University center was the 119th overall pick and fourth center selected in the draft.
‘This has been an amazing day for both my family and myself,? said Ghiaciuc, son of Tony Ghiaciuc and Cathy Griffith. ‘Cincinnati is a great organization and I am excited to play for it. The Bengals will provide me a great opportunity to succeed in the NFL and I am ready for the challenge.?
Although he was ‘willing to go anywhere? to play pro football, Ghiaciuc said he’s ‘excited? Cincinnati drafted him because it’s a ‘great football town? with a ‘real strong fan base? and close enough to Michigan for his family and friends to come watch him play.
Rayner, a 2001 OHS graduate, was drafted by the Indianapolis Colts in the sixth round. The 6-foot, 2-inch, 209-pound Michigan State University kicker was pick 202 in the draft.
‘I’m pumped,? said Rayner, son of Larry and Linda Rayner. ‘It’s going to be a great situation for me.?
Rayner will be the Colts kickoff man next season, but eventually he’ll be given the opportunity to take over the field goal job. He’s particularly excited about kicking in the Colts? indoor stadium, which means he won’t have to worry about elements like wind and rain interfering with his kicks
Bengals Head Coach Marvin Lewis spoke highly of Ghiaciuc on Bengals.com.
‘Eric is a really fine player,? Lewis said. ‘He’s an offensive center ? a big man who’s very physical, athletic and has a lot of upside. He can come in and learn the NFL game and prosper. We had our eye on him for a while, and we were able to get him.?
Bengals Offensive Line Coach Paul Alexander also had praise for Ghiaciuc.
‘Everybody speaks highly of him,? Alexander said. ‘He’s great student with a 3.6 GPA. Ran 4.9 (seconds) in the 40-yard dash. A very smart football player. He’s a great kid ? he really is ? and we need a center.?
When asked if Ghiaciuc will start right away, Alexander said, ‘That’s up to him. I don’t see why he can’t. We wouldn’t have drafted him if we didn’t think he could play right away.?
Even ESPN draft expert Mel Kiper was impressed by Ghiaciuc and said so on national television.
‘The kid I like on (the list of names on the screen), Eric Ghiaciuc, the center out of Central Michigan,? Kiper said. ‘Ghiaciuc is athletic. He’s got a wrestling background. He can play center or guard. That’s a real good pick for Marvin Lewis and the Cincinnati Bengals.?
Ghiaciuc will make a homecoming appearance with the Bengals when they take on the Detroit Lions at Ford Field Sunday, Dec. 18.
Unfortunately, Rayner didn’t get to watch his name scroll across the television screen when he was drafted ? the cable went out at his Oxford home 15 minutes before the Colts selected him. He followed the draft via the Internet and was ‘pleasantly surprised? when he got the call from Indianapolis.
According to ColtPower.com Sports Writer Jerry Langton, the Colts scouted Rayner due to his ability to consistently get the ball into the opponent’s end zone. During his career with the Spartans, Rayner booted the pigskin past the goal line 82 percent of the time.
Colts President Bill Polian told Colts.com Rayner was definitely drafted to be their kickoff man.
‘He has, we felt, the biggest leg next to (Mike) Nugent in the entire draft,? Polian said.
Nugent, the nation’s top college placekicker from Ohio State University, was drafted by the New York Jets as the 47th overall pick.
ESPN Draft expert Mel Kiper believes Rayner ‘has a bigger leg than Mike Nugent.?
As for Rayner’s ability to ‘grow into a really good field goal kicker,? Polian said, ‘He has that potential. Right now, what’s missing is consistency on the field goal front, but he certainly can kick the ball off well enough to make our team and be a weapon for us.?
Rayner kicked three seasons for Michigan State, making 22 of 31 field-goal attempts as a senior. Five of his misses were from beyond 50 yards. He made 40 of 61 field goals in his three seasons.