Almost every college football player has dreams about playing in the National Football League someday.
Most players will only dream, but for Slippery Rock University wide receiver Devin Goda, that dream has become reality.
Goda has signed a free-agent contract to play as a receiver for the Baltimore Ravens.
“It’s a great feeling,” Goda said. “I’m excited to be in the league. It’s just a great feeling to have this happen.”
There was a chance that Goda was going to get drafted. When draft weekend arrived, Goda was nothing short of being busy on the phone with the Ravens.
“It was crazy,” Goda said. “Saturday, my family and I had a draft party. Baltimore called my agent, who has Ravens quarterback Joe Flacco as his client. He was talking to Baltimore every half hour. They were in touch with my agent when the 6th round started.”
The Ravens weren’t the only team that was interested in Goda.
“Teams were calling left and right,” Goda said. “The Cowboys called me first. Kansas City, Seattle, and Green Bay also called too. Teams started calling about mid-seventh round.”
After it was all said and done, Goda was not drafted, but in the end, the Baltimore Ravens was the team Goda chose.
“Baltimore called and put in an offer that I couldn’t pass up,” Goda said. “Right now Baltimore only has three receivers that are in right now and when I talked to Coach Harbaugh, he said I could come in now and have a chance to play. I really want that shot to play my first year.”
Goda seems to fit the mold that Baltimore looks for in receivers- big, tall, and strong.
“They’re a hard-nosed team,” Goda said. “They like big physical receivers. They have Anquan Boldin, and he’s huge. They like how I catch the ball over the middle and my hand strength. They like how I’m a big, physical receiver.”
Despite not being drafted, Goda thought positively about it.
“Since I was coming out of Division II, teams said they wanted to get me cheap,” Goda said. “We were pretty confident I was going to get drafted. It’s probably for the best, going as a preferred free agent. I got to pick where I wanted to go. All in all, I think it was a blessing to have it go this way.”
Goda finished his senior year at SRU catching 75 passes for 1,028 yards and, scoring 11 touchdowns. He was voted to the First-Team All Pennsylvania State Athletic Conference West Division Team.
He finished his career at SRU ranked second all-time in catches with 173, and yardage, 2,259. Goda will leave for the Ravens rookie mini-camp next Thursday. He will then remain in Baltimore until training camp opens up.
