ATLANTA -- Georgia State offensive tackle Ulrick John was selected by the Indianapolis Colts in the seventh round of the National Football League Draft. He was the 232nd overall pick.
Georgia State has played football for just four seasons, but John is the second Georgia State player to be drafted. In 2012, defensive lineman Christo Bilukidi was selected with the 19th pick of the sixth round (189th overall) by the Oakland Raiders. He played the 2012 for the Raiders and then finished 2013 with the Cincinnati Bengals.
A native of Hinesville, Ga., John was an All-Sun Belt Conference left tackle for the Panthers' and the team's top lineman the last two seasons. Listed at 6-6 and 288 pounds, he was a two-year starter at left tackle with 25 career starts who is very athletic and versatile enough to play anywhere on the line.
"This is a great opportunity for Ulrick and great news for Georgia State football," head coach Trent Miles said. "He has an opportunity to earn a spot with an outstanding franchise. The work is just beginning, but his best football is ahead of him."
All-America wide receiver Albert Wilson also earned an NFL opportunity as he agreed to a free agent contract with the Kansas City Chiefs.
Wilson, a native of Port St. Lucie, Fla., just completed a record-setting career for the Panthers, setting the school’s career records for receptions (175), receiving yards (3,190), yards per catch (18.2), touchdown receptions (23), 100-yard games (13), kickoff returns (95), kickoff return yards (2,338), kickoff returns for touchdowns (2), punt returns (41), punt return yards (376), all-purpose yards (6,235) and touchdowns scored (26). His career total of 6,235 all-purpose yards (receiving, rushing and returns) ranks among the Top 30 in NCAA history.
He was an all-conference selection in both the FCS Colonial Athletic Association and the FBS Sun Belt Conference, and he earned honorable mention All-America recognition from SI.com as a senior.
In 2013, Wilson led the Sun Belt in receiving yards (98.1 pg) while ranking second in receptions (5.9) and all-purpose yards. Heet GSU season records with 71 receptions for 1,177 yards and eight touchdowns and 2,283 all-purpose yards, breaking his own record in each category. He was also the team’s third-leading rusher with 251 yards on just 24 carries (10.5 avg.), and he averaged 23.5 yards on 31 kickoff returns and 8.3 yards on 15 punt returns.
