Beverley Jackson could see the worry on her son’s face.
Some projections had Dane Cruikshank being drafted in the third round. Others placed the Arizona Wildcats defensive back in the fourth.
When the latter came and went Saturday morning, the tension at Cruikshank’s draft party in Chino Hills, California, only grew.
“When the fourth round was completed, we all had these looks on our faces like, ‘What is happening?’” Jackson said.
“It was becoming a little scary. … Watching Dane’s face made it harder.”
Fifteen picks into the fifth round, anxiety turned into relief. And relief turned into elation.
The Tennessee Titans traded up in Round 5 to snare Cruikshank with the 152nd selection in the 2018 NFL draft. He was the only Wildcat picked and the first to be drafted since Will Parks and Scooby Wright in 2016.
Cruikshank said tears were trickling from his eyes when he got the news.
“You put in all the work. Then it’s in God’s hands,” Cruikshank said. “It’s a cool experience, but at the same time kind of stressful. You never know.”
Cruikshank had heard from teams that he would go somewhere between the third and fifth rounds. Tennessee was one of eight teams he visited before the draft. The Titans traded their third-round pick Friday, and they didn’t have a fourth-rounder.
Tennessee then made another move to ensure Cruikshank would become a Titan, trading picks 162 and 215 to Baltimore for No. 152. The fact that the Titans moved up to get him lessened the sting.
“That tells you something,” Cruikshank said.
Cruikshank was sitting in the kitchen of his grandparents’ house when the call came from Tennessee general manager Jon Robinson. Cruikshank had to leave the room so he could hear what Robinson and Titans first-year coach Mike Vrabel had to say. By the time Cruikshank came back, his name had flashed on the screen. His family members and friends — 20 to 25 in all — erupted.
“Everybody just started screaming,” Cruikshank said.
“I’m breathing again,” Jackson said a couple of hours later. “You can’t understand that anxiety unless you actually go through it.”
Cruikshank blossomed as a fifth-year senior after moving from cornerback to the “Spur” safety position. He recorded 75 tackles, including 5.5 for losses, five pass breakups, three interceptions and a forced fumble.
Cruikshank impressed coaches at the East-West Shrine Game and excelled in workouts at the NFL scouting combine. Weighing 209 pounds, Cruikshank ran the 40-yard dash in 4.41 seconds and bench-pressed 225 pounds 25 times, most among defensive backs.
The NFL and the Titans listed Cruikshank as a safety. As a Spur, he often played near the line of scrimmage, defending the run and covering slot receivers.
“We spent a lot of time with him this spring,” Robinson told Tennessee reporters. “He has really good size, really good speed. He has played outside corner, he’s played inside corner, he’s worked some at safety, played some in the kicking game. So we’re really excited to add him.”
Cruikshank probably fits best at strong safety. The Titans are deep at cornerback with former Patriots Logan Ryan and Malcolm Butler and 2017 first-round pick Adoree’ Jackson. Free safety Kevin Byard was named first-team All-Pro last season. Tennessee’s current projected starter at strong safety is former Jacksonville second-round pick Johnathan Cyprien.
Cruikshank doesn’t care what position he plays. He’s just happy to be a pro.
“It’s always been the goal,” Cruikshank said. “I always thought I was going to be in this position. I literally had dreams about it. I went to sleep praying about it. I just worked my butt off, and now I’m here.”
Cruikshank didn’t qualify for a four-year university out of high school and attended Citrus College in Glendora, California, before coming to Tucson. His primary recruiter was former Arizona receivers coach Tony Dews. Dews is now the running backs coach for the Titans.
One more bit of trivia: Friday was Cruikshank’s birthday. He turned 23.
“Amazing birthday gift for him,” Jackson said. “It came a day late, but that’s OK.”
Alsadek, de Beer join teams
Former UA offensive linemen Jacob Alsadek and Gerhard de Beer signed with teams as free agents shortly after the draft.
Alsadek, a guard, will be joining the Green Bay Packers. De Beer, a tackle, is headed to Buffalo to try to make the Bills roster.
De Beer hoped to be drafted but wasn’t counting on it. The South African came to Arizona as a thrower for the track team and made himself into a competent football player despite having no background in the sport.
“I’m used to being an underdog,” de Beer said. “I never played football before. Nothing was expected of me. I had to create my spot and opportunity. That’s exactly what I’m going to do at the next level.”
Extra points
- Tucson High product Levi Wallace, who went from walk-on to starter for Alabama, also is signing with the Bills. The cornerback wasn’t one of the 11 Crimson Tide players drafted despite having a standout senior season for the national champions.
- Former Arizona running back Zach Green tweeted that he signed with the Cincinnati Bengals.
- Two of UA coach Kevin Sumlin‘s former Texas A&M players were drafted Saturday: safety Armani Watts (fourth round, Kansas City) and receiver Damion Ratley (sixth, Cleveland). The Cardinals picked A&M receiver and Phoenix-area native Christian Kirk in the second round Friday.
- Three Arizona State players got picked on Day 3: tailback Kalen Ballage (fourth round, Miami), linebacker Christian Sam (sixth, New England) and offensive lineman Sam Jones (sixth, Denver).
