Damarious Randall is in rare company.
The former Arizona State safety was selected in the first round (30th overall) by the Green Bay Packers Thursday night. It signified a fitting end for the former Mesa Community College star who rose up draft boards faster than the Valley temperatures in May.
After some scouts and player personnel focused on what Randall couldn’t do following the Sun Devils season, more and more began seeing what the 5’11, 200-pounder could.
Versatility can go a long way in the NFL.
It’s likely the main reason the speedy defender became the first ASU player selected in the first round since the Baltimore Ravens picked Terrell Suggs at number 10 overall a dozen years ago.
“So many teams look at his varied skill set,” SI.com Senior NFL Writer Peter King told Sports360AZ.com’s Brad Cesmat in a phone interview Friday morning. “He’s going to play a lot…he’s had experience all over the map.”
The Packers have said they would like to use Randall at cornerback which is just fine with him.
“Corner’s fun, to be out there on an island,” Randall explained. “Safety, being back there and controlling the back-end is also fun. Either one.”
Regardless of position, King believes Randall will have the opportunity to succeed with the Packers.
“Green Bay is the perfect spot for him,” he said. “Green Bay needs corner help and they’re also thin depth-wise at safety.”
Randall joins former Sun Devil defensive teammate Carl Bradford who was a fourth-round pick of the Packers last season.”
Eric Sorenson
