MORGANTOWN — Tony Fields left Arizona with one year of eligibility left, hoping to make one more big impression before giving a professional career a shot.
As a three-year starter with the Wildcats, he racked up 287 tackles, mainly playing outside linebacker. With the decision to move on from Arizona, Fields wanted to prove he was a versatile option and can play wherever a team needed.
That’s when WVU and head coach Neal Brown came calling.
The Mountaineers had a gaping hole at Mike linebacker prior to last season, and with Fields’ want to change positions, it was a perfect match that wound up having near-perfect results. In nine games, Fields led the Mountaineers in tackles with 88, including a sack, and also tallied an interception.
It was a great example of how the graduate transfer rule can play out as a win-win for both parties as WVU benefited by gaining one of the top linebackers in the Big 12 last season — Fields was named the conference’s defensive newcomer of the year — and Fields will likely hear his named called during this weekend’s NFL draft.
“The experience at Mike definitely helped,” Fields said. “My first three years at U of A, I played Will linebacker, so coming to play Mike, having to set the edge, call the plays and learn a totally new position helped a lot.”
Leading up to the draft, Fields said he’s been in contact with all 32 NFL teams, while some have reached out more frequently than others. What position he plays will be dependent on what team selects him.
“As of right now, I believe I’m still going to be playing Will linebacker,” Fields said. “Some teams have said Mike linebacker and some teams have even told me nickel-type backer.”
Draft projections are struggling on where to pinpoint where Fields could be drafted, but the consensus is that he will likely be picked Saturday between the 4th and 7th rounds:
NFL — Undrafted
The Athletic — 5th round to the Philadelphia Eagles
CBS Sports — 5th round to the Buffalo Bills
Sporting News — 4th round to the Indianapolis Colts
Pro Football Focus — 5th round to the Atlanta Falcons
Projects are similar for defensive tackle Darius Stills, a consensus All-American for the Mountaineers last season.
NFL — 6th round to the Houston Texans
The Athletic — 5th round to Atlanta
CBS Sports — 6th round to the Los Angeles Chargers
Sporting News — 4th round to the Minneapolis Vikings
Pro Football Focus — 5th round to the Baltimore Ravens
Other former Mountaineers to keep an eye out for are wide receiver T.J. Simmons, offensive linemen Michael Brown and Chase Behrndt, and long-snapper, as well as Morgantown native, Kyle Poland.
The first round of the NFL draft concluded Thursday night, while the 2nd and 3rd rounds are scheduled for Friday, beginning at 7 p.m. The 4th-7th rounds will begin at noon Saturday.
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