Cardinal Newman grad Scooby Wright celebrates his NFL Draft selection by Cleveland Browns

After Scooby Wright finally got word he'd been drafted Saturday by the Cleveland Browns, the Cardinal Newman grad celebrated in Santa Rosa with a pool plunge.|
BOB PADECKY
THE PRESS DEMOCRAT

With only four selections left in 2016 NFL Draft, Cardinal Newman's Scooby Wright found out he was picked by the Cleveland Browns Saturday. After waiting for more than six hours Wright celebrated in a way that only someone who felt a tremendous sense of relief could: He took a running start and dived head first over a four-foot fence into his father's Santa Rosa pool.

“Scooby's going to the Dawg Pound!!!” Wright screamed over and over to family and friends. He was referring to the Browns' fans who dress in dog masks and bark their approval of their team's success.

Tears were running down his eyes as he leapt into the pool, for it was the seventh and last round the draft and he was the 250th player chosen. Wright already had resolved himself to signing as an undrafted free agent.

In fact, he was about to call the Arizona Cardinals and tell them he would accept their free agent offer, almost certain he would go undrafted. With about 10 picks still left in the draft, six NFL teams had felt the same way and had contacted Wright to offer him a free agent contract. Then a family member shouted to him that the Browns had picked him, just as he was about to dial Arizona.

The University of Arizona offered Wright his only college scholarship after graduating from Cardinal Newman High School. Wright surprised college football as a sophomore when he won every major defensive award while becoming an NCAA All-American. But as a junior last season he played in only three games, suffering knee and foot injuries. He regained his health and played for the Wildcats in a post-season bowl game. Wright elected to declare for the draft.

He was clear on what he wanted to accomplish this upcoming NFL season.

“I want to be the NFL's Defensive Rookie of the Year,” said Wright, not content with making the team as a low round draft choice. “That's my goal.”

Wright will leave for the Browns' rookie camp next week.

To contact Bob Padecky email him at bobpadecky@gmail.com.

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