Football: Ryan Nassib picked by N.Y. Giants
After ex-Syracuse boss Doug Marrone and the Buffalo Bills opted for a different quarterback in the first round of the NFL draft, it became a waiting game for West Chester's Ryan Nassib.
The waiting finally ended early Saturday afternoon. Nassib, who starred for Marrone and the Orangemen the last three seasons, was tabbed in the fourth round, with the No. 110 overall pick, by the New York Giants.
Nassib will join former Syracuse teammate Justin Pugh, a 6-foot-4, 310-pound offensive tackle from Council Rock South High who was tabbed Thursday night by the Giants with the No. 19 pick in the first round.
Nassib, a 2008 graduate of Malvern Prep, became the latest quarterback from Chester County to reach the pro ranks, joining fellow West Chester native Matt Schaub, of the Houston Texans, and Exton's Matt Ryan, of the Atlanta Falcons.
The other NFL signal-caller with local ties is Joe Flacco, of the Baltimore Ravens. The Super Bowl MVP grew up in South Jersey and played at Audubon High.
The 6-foot-2, 227-pound Nassib was the fifth QB picked in this year's draft, following Florida State's E.J. Manuel (Bills, No. 16 overall), West Virginia's Gino Smith (New York Jets, No. 39), North Carolina State's Mike Glennon (Tampa Bay Bucs, No. 73), and USC's Matt Barkley (Eagles, No. 98).
After directing Syracuse to an 8-5 record last season, including a snowy romp over West Virginia in the Pinstripe Bowl, Nassib traveled the country trying to impress NFL personnel in private workouts and interviews.
Because of his connection with Marrone, who coached Syracuse for four seasons before behind hired by Buffalo in January, some mock draft boards had Nassib reuniting with Marrone with the No. 8 overall pick. That didn't happen at No. 8 – or No. 16.
Earlier in the week, Nassib spoke to students at West Chester's St. Maximilian Kolbe School, where he attended from fifth through eighth grade. He first played football, as a fifth-grade fullback, at St. Max.
In his career at Syracuse, Nassib passed for 9,190 yards and 70 touchdowns. He had a completion percentage of .603.
Last season, while earning second-team all-Big East honors, the cocaptain completed 294 of 471 passes (62.4 percent) for 3,749 yards and 26 TDs, with 10 interceptions. He had an efficiency rating of 143.25.
In the 2012 opener, a 42-41 loss to Northwestern, Nassib connected on 45 of 66 throws for 482 yards and four TDs. A week later, in a 42-29 setback against USC at MetLife Stadium, he was 30 for 46 for 322 yards and two scores.
In 2007, his senior season at Malvern Prep, Nassib passed for more than 1,200 yards and eight scores as the Friars went 9-1 and captured the Inter-Academic League championship.