MORGANTOWN — Kyle Poland watched the later rounds of the NFL draft Saturday with friends and family, knowing his future in football could be hanging in the balance.
Still, it wasn’t as much nervousness as anxiousness.
“I just wanted to know if I was going to get my opportunity with a team in the NFL or not,” the Morgantown native and 2016 MHS grad said.
Finally, during the 6th round, Poland got the call he was waiting for.
The Houston Texans did not have a 7th-round pick, but if Poland, a long-snapper, was still available after the draft, he was invited to attend the team’s rookie mini camp. When the draft was finished, Poland jumped at the opportunity with the Texans and is headed to Houston next week for camp.
“Once the Texans called, it was a sigh of relief because they made it clear they wanted me,” he said.
Poland spent the last five seasons at WVU, working his way from a preferred walk-on to earning a scholarship and starting for the Mountaineers in 2020. From early on, Poland’s father, Steve, tried to convince him that one of the best ways to a opportunity to play college football was to learn how to become a long-snapper.
Now, it not only turned into a dream to play for his hometown university — it earned him a shot in the NFL.
“This has been my dream since I picked up a football,” Poland said. “Having an opportunity to represent West Virginia and all of the fans who have supported me this far is such a blessing.”
Poland is the second WVU long-snapper to get an NFL opportunity in as many years. Rex Sunahara signed with the Miami Dolphins as an undrafted free agent and eventually made the roster toward the end of last season.
For Houston, Jon Weeks has been the team’s long-snapper since 2010. The 11-year veteran was undrafted out of Baylor in 2008 and spent two years out of football before getting an opportunity with the Texans.
In the meantime, Poland is continuing to work out with the strength staff at WVU, and once he leaves for Houston, will stay in a hotel during camp. If he makes the team, he will then figure out, along with his family, what the next step is.
Regardless, he will never be too far from home.
“We want to keep our home base in Morgantown, no matter where I end up for football,” Poland said. “Our families still live here. Morgantown will always be our home.”
Former WVU linebacker Tony Fields was selected in the 5th round by the Cleveland Browns — the only ex-Mountaineer to be picked in the draft.
Joining Poland as undrafted free agents are defensive lineman Darius Stills (Las Vegas Raiders), offensive lineman Michael Brown (New Orleans Saints), wide receiver T.J. Simmons (Tampa Bay Buccaneers) and offensive lineman Chase Behrndt (Pittsburgh Steelers).
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