April 27, 2012

University of Arizona quarterback Nick Foles was selected by the Philadelphia Eagles with the 25th pick in the third round, the 88th player taken in the NFL Draft at New York.

Foles, a 6-foot-5, 243 pounder from Austin, Texas, set most Arizona single game, single season and career passing records in his three years as a Wildcat after transferring from Michigan State prior to the 2008 season.

He sat out that first year under NCAA rules for transfers, then fought with Matt Scott for the starting role in 2009, winning the job a third of the way through the year.

Foles is the first UA quarterback picked in the draft since John Conner in 1985 (10th round, Seahawks) although Alfred Jenkins was taken in the nine round in 1987 as a tight end by the Washington Redskins. Sometime QB Chuck Levy was picked ninth in the second round by the Arizona Cardinals as an all-purpose back and receiver.

A number of other Wildcats will watch the final rounds of the draft closely, with rounds 4-7 held tomorrow. The event is being held at Radio City Music Hall in Manhattan. Among those with good potential to be drafted are receiver Juron Criner and cornerback Trevin Wade, with a number of Wildcats expecting calls as free agents.

Nick Foles, Quarterback - 6-5, 240, Austin, Texas

...Three-year starter and Arizona's first career 10,000-yard passer as well as most single-season and career passing records for the Wildcats... He left owning the career passing yards (10,011), touchdowns (67, tie), attempts, completions and career total offense records, along with single-season marks in yards, TDs, attempts and completions, among other notables. A 2008 transfer from Michigan State who sat out that year, Foles was a two-time honorable mention All-Pac performer and clearly UA’s top weapon in 2011... Took over starting job in fourth game of 2009 and started 32 games thereafter, missing a couple of nods with injury... Career-best 448 passing yards at Oregon in 2010... Career-high 41 completions (53 attempts) for 425 yards and four scores at USC in 2011... Threw for five touchdowns against Northern Arizona in senior-year opener... Arizona record 208 pass attempts without an interception including his first 193 throws in 2011... Set UA mark with 4,334 passing yards as senior, Arizona's first to eclipse the 4000 barrier... University of Arizona athletics community service leader throughout his career... At Michigan State as a true freshman in 2007, Foles played in one game, with 5-for-8 passing for 57 yards… 2007 graduate of Westlake High School in Austin, Texas…Set school career records for passing yards (5,658) and passing TDs (56), breaking marks previously held by Drew Brees (New Orleans Saints)… Fourth-team all-state selection by TexasHSFootball.com… Honorable mention Class 5A all-state pick by the Texas Sports Writers Association (TSWA)… Offensive MVP of the All-District (25-5A) Team... Central Texas (All-Centex) Player of the Year by the Austin American-Statesman… Completed 187-of-280 throws (.668) for 3,296 yards, 33 touchdowns and just four interceptions as a senior while leading the Chaparrals to a 12-3 record including a trip to the Class 5A Division I championship game against Southlake Carroll… Three-year starter and two-time team MVP for Coach Ben Faulkner's Westlake basketball team… Averaged 15 points and 11 rebounds in 2005-06 while earning all-district honors, and led the district in rebounding as a sophomore… Academic All-District honors in football and basketball… University of Arizona academic major was communication… Honorable mention Pac-10 All-Academic honors 2009 and 2010 seasons…Son of Larry and Melissa Foles.