Lehigh University Athletics
Rackley readies for upcoming NFL Draft
4/27/2011 5:04:00 PM | Football
BETHLEHEM, Pa. – Last fall Will Rackley completed one of the finest careers of any offensive lineman in Lehigh or Patriot League history. Rackley became a three-time first team All-Patriot League selection and earned All-America honors from four different outlets after helping lead the Mountain Hawks to a Patriot League title and NCAA playoff berth. This weekend, he will become the first Lehigh player to be drafted into the National Football League in 16 years.
“It's a humbling experience to be in this position to get drafted into the NFL,” Rackley said. “Any time I've went out on the field for the combine or working out for teams I feel like I've kind of had Lehigh on my back. I've had great support from the student body and the coaching staff and really everybody here.”
There has been little time for rest for Rackley. Lehigh's season ended December 4 with a loss to Delaware in the NCAA Playoffs. As the New Year began, Rackley spent some time at the IMG Academy in Florida prepping for the NFL Scouting Combine in February. He also became the first Lehigh player since 2005 to play in the prestigious East-West Shrine Game. After starring at left tackle for the Mountain Hawks, Rackley played right tackle in the East-West Shrine Game, helping lead the East team to victory while earning praise from NFL Network draft analyst Mike Mayock as one of five players who “made money” with his performance during the week of practice.In late February Rackley participated in the NFL Scouting Combine in Indianapolis, where he met with representatives from 28 teams, and participated in the full assortment of workouts, with the exception of the 40-yard dash. In March Lehigh held a pro day at the Ulrich Sports Complex where Rackley ran the 40 and participated in a variety of skills for NFL scouts and coaches. In the time since the pro day, Rackley has worked out individually for seven teams and visited with three others.
“It has been an exciting but hectic experience,” Rackley said about the run-up to the draft. “It has definitely been busy, but I've just been trying to go with the flow. Going to Florida and training for the combine and then going to the combine and seeing all the other guys and taking the medical exams and interviews doing all the stuff that people don't see on TV. Going from there to the pro day and the individual workouts and then adding in school it has kept me really busy.”
All the while, Rackley has continued to take care of business in the classroom. A design arts major with a 2.85 GPA, Rackley won the My South Side Photo Contest in January with his photo of the old Bethlehem Steel Mill.
This weekend, Rackley is expected to be the first Lehigh player to be drafted since defensive end Rich Owens was selected in the fifth round (No. 152 overall) by the Washington Redskins in 1995. Since the AFL-NFL merger in 1970 seven Lehigh football players have been selected in the NFL draft. Former Lehigh quarterback Kim McQuilken '74 was picked highest in that group of seven as he was selected in the third round (69th overall) by the Atlanta Falcons in 1964.
“Whatever happens is going to happen,” said Rackley, whose pre-draft rankings have risen as high as the upper 50s according to some draft experts. “I'm not going to stress out over it and enjoy the time with my family.”
As for the events upcoming this weekend, Rackley will attend a draft-related function in New York on Thursday before returning to Riverdale, Georgia to watch the duration of the draft with his family.
“It's a great feeling to have a chance to play pro football,” Rackley explained. “Going back to when I was a kid playing with my brothers in the backyard it's something I've always wanted to do so it's really a dream come true. It's a rare opportunity and one I'm definitely looking to take advantage of.”
Assuming Rackley is drafted the current NFL labor situation also will afford him a unique opportunity. Because of the lockout there will be no rookie minicamps in the week following the draft so Rackley will be able to return to campus for final exams and commencement.
The 2011 NFL Draft will begin Thursday with the first round. The second and third rounds will be held on Friday with rounds four through seven set for Saturday.
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