Pitt, of course, has press releases for both Charles Spencer and Josh Lay being drafted. Just the basics and tying them to past Pitt players drafted in their position.

The Big East press release on the draft lists the 11 Big East players drafted.

BIG EAST PLAYERS SELECTED IN THE 2006 NFL DRAFT

Round 3
Pick (Overall), Team, Name, Position, School
1(65), Houston, Charles Spencer, OG, PITTSBURGH
11(75), Green Bay, Jason Spitz, C, LOUISVILLE
19(83), Pittsburgh, Anthony Smith, S, SYRACUSE

Round 4
Pick (Overall), Team, Name, Position, School
29(126), Denver, Elvis Dumervil, DE, LOUISVILLE

Round 5
Pick (Overall), Team, Name, Position, School
6(139), Atlanta, Quinn Ojinnaka, OG, SYRACUSE
9(142), Arizona, Brandon Johnson, LB, LOUISVILLE

Round 6
Pick (Overall), Team, Name, Position, School
5(174), New Orleans, Bernard “Josh” Lay, CB, PITTSBURGH
10(179), Detroit, Dee McCann, CB, WEST VIRGINIA
13(182), Dallas, Montavious Stanley, DT, LOUISVILLE

Round 7
Pick (Overall), Team, Name, Position, School
5(213), Jacksonville, James Wyche, DE, SYRACUSE
11(219), Baltimore, Ryan LaCasse, DE, SYRACUSE

Not one of the finer showings in the draft for the conference. Forced to note that the ACC had 12 players drafted in just the 1st round.

USF Running Back Andre Hall wasn’t drafted, but has already signed a free agent deal with Tampa Bay.

If you are of the school of thought that the Denver Broncos produce the ideal offensive line because they do their best to never speak or be heard, then Charles Spencer is on the right track. Following his first day selection by the Houston Texans, there is no sign of any quote from Spencer. Quotes from his agent, his new coach and his old coach. But not from Spencer.

“Everyone knows that Charles has a tremendous upside, and Houston didn’t think it was a reach to get him with the third pick in the third round,” Joe Linta, Spencer’s agent, said. “They have a good quarterback and running back, but they had a need for linemen this year.

“So, they took Charles and tackle Eric Winston from Miami. Charles and Eric will be able to grow with some of the young players on that team, and I’m sure that Charles will have a long future in the NFL. He’s a great guy, and I think that’s a great opportunity for him with the Houston Texans.”

After lettering on defense for two seasons at Pitt, Spencer moved to offense and started his final 23 games. He finished strong in 2004 to earn second-team All-Big East honors as a left guard for the Panthers. Spencer moved to left tackle last season and also was a second-team all-conference selection.

“Charles Spencer is a guy that should make an excellent offensive guard in the NFL,” second-year Pitt coach Dave Wannstedt said. “He’s big and strong and very athletic, but he just hasn’t played offensive line for a long time. He might not make an immediate impact in the NFL, but I believe he has the ability to stay for quite a while.”

Spencer is the first Pitt offensive lineman taken on Day 1 since Ruben Brown in 1995.

Spencer is expected to play Left Tackle for Houston.

Spencer, 6-4 and 352 pounds, is slated to compete with Seth Wand for the starting job at left tackle. Winston, 6-6 and 310 pounds, should compete with Zach Wiegert and Todd Wade at right tackle.

“Good things come to those who wait,” coach Gary Kubiak said after the Texans’ third-round selections were announced. “This is awesome. I can’t believe it panned out this way.”
…
“At the end of Spencer’s senior year, he played as well as any tackle we studied in the draft,” Kubiak said.

At the very least, Spencer is 2nd on the depth chart behind Wand

Still kind of strange that there has been no quote from Spencer.

Josh Lay will make his first trip ever to New Orleans for an event with all of the draft picks on May 12.

Lay watched the draft unfold with 25 family members and friends at his father’s house in Patterson Township. He was expected to be taken as high as the third or fourth round, but went late into the second day.

“It was nerve-wracking,” Lay said. “It took me a while to go to sleep (Saturday) night, but I slept all right. And I got up (Sunday) to start watching the draft again. What you need to do is put everything in God’s hands, and that’s what I did. So, I guess the best place for me is in New Orleans.”

Lay is represented by Michael Huygue from Axcess Sports and Entertainment in Florida, and he believed Lay would be able to contribute to the Saints as an extra defensive back and on special teams.

“Josh didn’t get invited to the Senior Bowl, and that’s why he dropped into the sixth round,” Huygue said. “Still, I thought he did a good job at the combine and during Pitt’s pro day, but that’s all right. We’ll get him signed, and he’ll be in camp on time. That’s his best chance to make an impact.”

Yeah, 6th round draft picks aren’t going to have agents making a lot of noise about signing bonuses and holdouts.

Josh Lay’s agent is also the agent for Greg Lee. Lay and Lee talked a little after the draft, Lee had called to congratulate Lay.

“I thought for sure Greg would go before me,” Lay said.

It seems, that Lee has already decided where he’ll try to make it via free agency.

Lee, whose junior season was marred by drops and a lack of productivity, will have to make an NFL team the hard way via a free-agent tryout with the Arizona Cardinals. Thirty-three receivers were taken in the draft. Lee had hoped to be taken on the first day of the draft, in the first three rounds.

“I’m very disappointed,” Lee said last night.

Lee, who will be reunited with Larry Fitzgerald in Arizona, said he does not regret his decision to come out early.

“I don’t regret doing that at all,” he said.

I don’t think Lee has a choice but to say that. Kind of surprised he chose Arizona. Guess he knows there’s a spare bed for him crash on at Fitzgerald’s place?