Towson University’s Terrance West was selected by the Cleveland Browns Friday night in the third round of the National Football League (NFL) draft. He was the 94th pick overall in the draft.
Additionally, on Saturday, Towson football alumnus and former All-American offensive tackle Eric Pike signed a free agent contract with the Indianapolis Colts after the conclusion of the draft.
West is the fifth Tiger to be drafted to the NFL. Kicker Randy Bielski was chosen by Baltimore in the 12th round in 1980, Dave Meggett was selected in the fifth round in 1989, Tony Vinson was a fifth round selection by San Diego in 1995 and Jermon Bushrod was chosen by the Saints in the fourth round in 2007.
Terrance West at the FCS Championship Game in January. Photo by Rick Yeatts.
A three-time All-America running back who left Towson after his junior year to apply for early entry into the 2014 draft, West was a consensus All-America first team selection in 2013 when he led all college football players with 2,509 rushing yards and 42 touchdowns.
Honored as the 2013 Colonial Athletic Association (CAA) Offensive Player of the Year and a finalist for the 2013 Walter Payton Award, West led the Tigers to the NCAA FCS championship game. With a record of 13-3, the Tigers were national runners-up.
Accumulating 2,509 rushing yards, West shattered the FCS single season record of 2,326 yards set by Colgate’s Jamaal Branch in 2003. He also broke the FCS record with 42 touchdowns, eclipsing the record of 39 set by Delaware’s Omar Cuff in 2007. In his three-year career at Towson, West ran for 4,849 yards on 802 carries with 84 touchdowns. His 84 career rushing touchdowns tied the FCS record set by Adrian Peterson of Georgia Southern.
West, who also caught two touchdown passes in his career, ended his career with 86 total touchdowns scored. He ranks third on the NCAA FCS all-time list of touchdown scorers. The winner of the Jerry Rice Award as the top freshman in the FCS in 2011, West earned All-CAA first team honors three times. During his career, West was named as the CAA Offensive Player of the Week seven times.
Last season, West scored at least one touchdown in all 16 games for the Tigers. He also ran for more than 100 yards 12 times and had four 200-plus-yard games. In the Tigers’ NCAA FCS quarter-final victory over Eastern Illinois, he set an NCAA FCS playoff record by rushing for 354 yards. He also scored five touchdowns against Eastern Illinois.
West will now try to become the sixth player in Towson history to play in an NFL game. Punter Sean Landeta (1985-2004), offensive lineman Stan Eisenhooth (1987-89), running back Meggett (1989-1998), running back Vinson (1994-97) and offensive tackle Bushrod (2007-present) are the previous Tigers to play in an NFL game. Landeta, Meggett and Bushrod have all earned All-Pro honors.
A two-year captain, Pike was a consensus first team All-American selection as a senior. He earned All-CAA honors three times, including first team notice as a junior and senior. During his career, he helped the Tigers win two CAA championships and make two appearances in the FCS playoffs. Pike was the winner of the Doc Minnegan Award as the team’s Most Valuable Player this past season.
