Before the 2020 NFL Draft, I identified some local prospects to keep an eye on, whether they played in the area collegiately, like Pitt's Dane Jackson, or in high school, like New Castle's Geno Stone and McKeesport's Khaleke Hudson.
Now, with the 2020 NFL Draft officially wrapped up, let's take a look at where those prospects will play at the professional level.
DANE JACKSON, CB, Pitt
I was sure Dane Jackson would be drafted, anticipating his name being called as early as Round 3 and no later than the end of Round 5. Those rounds came and went, and Jackson remained on the board. Then the sixth. Then the seventh ... and finally his name was called at pick No. 239. With that, Jackson is now a member of the Buffalo Bills.
Dane Jackson ➡️ @BuffaloBills
Buffalo got a good one!
Congratulations, Dane!#H2P • #NFLDraft • @Djack11_ pic.twitter.com/RxwQdXBmeL
— Pitt Football (@Pitt_FB) April 25, 2020
After a four-year career at Pitt, Jackson will now ply his trade at the next level, just a couple hours north of Pittsburgh.
"The Bills got themselves a steal in Dane Jackson," Pitt's Pat Narduzzi said of the pick. "He is as good as any cornerback I've ever coached. Dane was not only a playmaker for us, but he also became an impactful leader as a senior captain. He showed on the field this past season, as well as at the Senior Bowl, that he's a disruptive corner and a big-time competitor."
KENNY ROBINSON, S, WVU /XFL
I thought Kenny Robinson was the best of the local bunch, saying he'd go on Day 3 as early as Round 4. Ultimately, the Panthers agreed but were able to hold out a round, taking Robinson with their fifth-round pick, 152nd overall.
Robinson starred at West Virginia University for two years, snagging seven interceptions there before being booted from the program for academic fraud. Rather than transferring, Robinson went to the XFL, where he registered two more interceptions while being targeted just eight times with the St. Louis BattleHawks.
Robinson's character concerns loom large, no doubt, but his talent is undeniable. If he matures and finds a rhythm at the NFL level, the Panthers and their fans will be nothing but pleased with that fifth-round pick.
MAURICE FFRENCH, WR, PITT
I expected Maurice Ffrench to go undrafted (despite a skill set I personally think will translate well to the NFL), and apparently scouts agreed, as all 32 teams passed on Ffrench multiple times. Shortly after the conclusion of the draft, however, multiple reports confirmed Ffrench found a home with the Kansas City Chiefs. On one hand, he'll have significant competition to make the team on such a high-octane offense, but on the other, that's an ideal landing spot for a young, electric player such as Ffrench to flourish.
REID HARRISON-DUCROS, CB, DUQUESNE
Like Ffrench, I thought Reid Harrison-Ducros looked like an NFL-caliber player on tape. But I also thought his lack of aggressiveness in the tackling department and his small-school resume would hold him back. It did, as he, like Ffrench, now looks to land somewhere and prove himself as an undrafted free agent. No team has taken a flyer on Harrison-Ducros at this time.
MASON GRAY, S, ROBERT MORRIS
Make that three in a row in the "undrafted" category. Despite ringing up 100 tackles, 4.5 tackles for a loss, 12 passes defended, two forced fumbles and two pick-sixes during his one year at Robert Morris University, Mason Gray went undrafted and remains unsigned.
KHALEKE HUDSON, LB/S, UNIVERSITY OF MICHIGAN VIA MCKEESPORT
There we go. Another local player made it, as the Redskins took Khaleke Hudson with their fifth-round pick, 162nd overall. Testing as a linebacker at the 2020 NFL Combine, Hudson ran the eighth-fastest 40-yard dash at his position at 4.56 seconds while putting up the most bench-press reps with 30.
He's fast and strong, but he may be limited at the NFL level as a "tweener" type player, not quite fast enough to be a pure safety and not quite big enough and fundamental enough with his tackling to play linebacker.
That said, the Redskins got a guy with great potential in Hudson, and they clearly see something in him I didn't, as I projected him to go in the seventh round at best.
GENO STONE, S, UNIVERSITY OF IOWA VIA NEW CASTLE
Like Hudson, Stone surpassed my personal expectation, going in the seventh round, 219th overall, to the Ravens. I thought he would go undrafted due to his limited athleticism (he ran a 4.62-second 40) and less-than-ideal size at 5-foot-10, 207 pounds. He's compact and stumpy, and he's not fast on paper, but Stone does boast incredible football instincts and IQ.
He made a nice career at Iowa by relying on these attributes, and the Ravens are clearly hoping he can keep it rolling at the NFL level.
BEN DINUCCI, QB, JAMES MADISON VIA PITT / PINE-RICHLAND
Wexford, Pa., native Ben DiNucci didn't make my initial list, if only because, well ... OK, I'll admit when I'm wrong, and I forgot about the guy.
DiNucci transferred to James Madison after two lackluster seasons at Pitt in 2016/2017, but he was able to turn things around in his new home and put together an appealing resume for the Cowboys, who selected him with their seventh-round pick, 231st overall.
At James Madison, DiNucci was named the CAA Offensive Player of the Year as a senior, throwing for 3,441 yards and 29 touchdowns while completing over 70 percent of his passes.
Not a bad bounce-back, and not a bad finish to a collegiate career that never caught fire here in the Steel City.
CONNOR SLOMKA, RB/FB, ARMY VIA PINE-RICHLAND
Connor Slomka didn't make my initial list to keep an eye on, but he did put up 658 rushing yards on 149 carries with eight touchdowns as a senior at the U.S. Military Academy in West Point, N.Y., and the Jaguars took notice, signing him after the draft concluded. Due to a recent policy change, Slomka can forego his five-year service obligation and head to Jacksonville immediately to begin his NFL career.
NAKIA GRIFFIN-STEWART, TE, PITT
NICK BOWERS, TE, PENN STATE VIA KITTANNING
A pair of local tight ends also got picked up after the draft, with 2019 Pitt graduate transfer Nakia Griffin-Stewart signing with the Vikings and Penn State / Kittanning Senior High School (now Armstrong Junior/Senior High School) tight end Nick Bowers getting a shot with the Raiders.
