Valdosta State’s O’Neal signs with Eagles
Published 8:28 pm Saturday, April 30, 2016
- Alan Cortez | Special to The TimesValdosta State running back Cedric O'Neal hurdles a Carson-Newman defender in the first round of the NCAA Division II playoffs at Bazemore-Hyder Stadium last season. O'Neal signed as an undrafted free agent with the Philadelphia Eagles on Saturday.
VALDOSTA — When the Philadelphia Eagles’ rookie minicamp begins May 13, Cedric O’Neal will be there with something to prove.
Shortly after the NFL draft concluded Saturday, Valdosta State’s career rushing leader signed as an undrafted free agent with the Eagles. But O’Neal said he felt he was better than that.
“I’m definitely going down there with a chip on my shoulder,” O’Neal said in a phone interview Saturday night. “Me personally, I feel like I was better than where I was picked up at. But that’s just me.
“It’s just like when I was coming out of high school and not having many looks. It happened again and I just have to make believers.”
That drive to prove himself carried the former Dublin High star into the VSU record books during his four seasons with the Blazers. After rushing for 1,198 yards and 14 touchdowns while helping the Blazers capture the 2012 NCAA Division II national championship, O’Neal didn’t slow down.
A year ago, he rushed for 1,069 yards and 17 TDs while also hauling in 36 passes for 318 yards and two more scores. He had 36 career receptions prior to the 2015 season, as he became the VSU career leader in rushing yards — 4,115 — and rushing touchdowns — 49.
But those credentials didn’t get O’Neal, a 6-foot, 213-pound running back, drafted during the three-day, seven-round event. There were reports prior to Thursday’s start of the draft that the Eagles were interested in O’Neal along with the Houston Texans, Kansas City Chiefs and Carolina Panthers.
After agreeing to a deal with Philadelphia, O’Neal said the Eagles’ persistence throughout the draft separated them from the Texans, Arizona Cardinals, New Orleans Saints and Oakland Raiders when it came time to pick his destination.
“They were really strong throughout the whole process,” O’Neal said. “This morning before the draft started today, they contacted me and said they did a background check on me and they liked the type of person I was.
“God works in mysterious ways man. They called me and said they wanted to see me down there in Philly and perform and just show my talent.”
Philadelphia used a fifth-round pick on West Virginia running back Wendell Smallwood, who is 5-10 and 208 pounds. Smallwood and O’Neal join a running back corps that have five other players currently including Darren Sproles, Ryan Mathews and Kenjon Barner. Mathews is the Eagles’ top returning rusher with 539 yards from a year ago.
But there is also a new coaching staff in Philadelphia, led by former Kansas City offensive coordinator and new Eagles head coach Doug Pederson.
And now O’Neal will try to impress that group once he arrives there next week to start learning the Eagles’ system and meet the coaching staff. He will have a familiar face with the Philadelphia organization as former VSU wide receiver Seantavius Jones signed with the Eagles earlier this offseason after spending the past two seasons with the Saints. Jones, an undrafted free agent as well, was on New Orleans’ active roster for three games last season.
“My dream as a kid finally became a reality,” O’Neal said. “I’m ready to go down there and just compete.”
Jamie Wachter is the sports editor of the Valdosta Daily Times and can be followed on Twitter @jlwachter.