With the 14th overall selection in the 2007 NFL Draft, the New York Jets selected Darrelle Revis. Revis, a 6'0", 197-pound University of Pittsburgh product, is both an accomplished cornerback and kick returner.
"I feel great, man," said an excited Revis when reached at his grandmother's home in Aliquippa, Pa. "I was just sitting here watching all these picks and just to see my name on the screen was great."
The Green & White moved up by participating in the first trade of the draft, acquiring the 14th selection and a sixth-round pick (No. 191) from the Carolina Panthers in exchange for the Jets' 25th overall selection, the first of their two second-round picks (No. 59) and their fifth-rounder (No. 164).
"Darrelle was a guy we spent a lot of time on,” said general manager Mike Tannenbaum. “We liked the tape on him initially. Eric [Mangini] and I spent a lot of time with him as a person and, as everyone knows here, that is really important to us. So as a player and a person, we think he is a good fit.”
"We had good communication on my visits to the Jets," the newest member of Mangini's roster told newyorkjets.com. "I just didn't know who was going to pick me, but when the Jets picked me I was ecstatic."
Revis, who started 34 of 35 games at Pitt, was an All-Big East Conference first-team player last season while collecting 39 tackles and two interceptions. He also totaled 190 yards on 22 punt returns and returned one for a touchdown. The shutdown corner had a knack for the end zone, becoming the first player in Pitt history to return interceptions for scores in consecutive games, against Virginia and Cincinnati).
"I am a team player," said Revis, the nephew of former NFL defensive lineman Sean Gilbert. "I want to get to New York and focus on learning the system and meeting my new teammates."
Prior to his final collegiate campaign, the Jets' top pick switched from left cornerback to right corner. He continued to flourish and was a semifinalist for the Jim Thorpe Award, an honor given to the nation's top defensive back.
A star at Aliquippa (Pa.) High school, Revis immediately became an impact player at Pittsburgh. He started as a freshman at LCB and was named Freshman All-American by The Sporting News after recording 49 tackles, two interceptions and 12 pass breakups.
As a sophomore, Revis became the Panthers' top punt returner, averaging 11.6 yards and tallying one score. His career special teams totals include one blocked field goal and 54 punt returns for 555 yards (10.3 avg.) and two scores.
"I love special teams," he said. "I have to credit my special teams coach, Coach [Charlie] Partridge. He put me back there and let me help the team. Even if it was on punt block, I just tried to help the team any way I could."
And when you combine that kind of versatility with character, the Jets were more than happy to move up and grab the first corner in the draft and the team's first first-round corner since Aaron Glenn in 1994.
“We really liked him on tape in term of his toughness, his play at the line of scrimmage, his athleticism, his size, his speed,” Mangini said. “All those things were very good. Then you factor into the equation his special teams value and the return ability that he has.
“More importantly than that, we spent a lot of time with him. He spent a day here with us. We talked to him prior to that and we did our research. We liked him as a person and to me that is the most important thing, the core Jets values, and he has those. When you combine those with the other aspects, I just think it was a solid pick.”
Darrelle Revis Wallpaper
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