TE Michael Egnew becomes First Mizzou Player Drafted

With the 78th pick in the 2012 NFL Draft, the Miami Dolphins select…Michael Egnew, tight end from the University of Missouri.

Egnew, Mizzou’s All-American tight end, became the first Tiger to come off the board in this year’s NFL Draft, going with the 15th pick in the third round, a pick the Dolphins received from San Diego in a trade. He was also the third tight end to be drafted, behind Stanford’s Coby Fleener, who went to Indianapolis, and Clemson’s Dwayne Allen, who also went to the Colts.

Mizzou has tremendous history at the tight end position, continued by Egnew who became the third Mizzou tight end to be drafted in the past five years. He joins Martin Rucker (2008, 4th round, 111th overall) and Chase Coffman (2009, 3rd round, 98th overall) to be drafted in the position. Kellen Winslow, another former Mizzou tight end, is an earlier and the best example of the Tigers’ dominance at the position. Winslow was picked 13th overall in the 1979. Overall, Egnew became the 21st player to be drafted during coach Gary Pinkel’s tenure, including 13 in the past five years.

Egnew now joins a Miami Dolphins team that finished 6-10 last year, but are looking for a new identity. They spent their first round pick, No. 8 overall, on Texas A&M quarterback Ryan Tannehill, who is hoped to be the Dolphins’ franchise quarterback of the future, if not the present. Matt Moore led the team in passing last year, throwing just under 2,500 yards with 16 touchdowns and nine interceptions. Tannehill will compete for the starting job, but Moore should be the favorite coming into camp.

The tight end was used a fair amount in the Dolphins’ offense last season. Anthony Fasano, the current No. 1 tight end on the roster, caught 32 passes for 451 yards and five touchdowns, good for fourth on the team. It’s unclear at this point, but with an established tight end like Fasano, Egnew will likely see spot playing time or serve as a backup and adjust to the NFL.

Egnew is one of the most complete and accomplished player to come out of Mizzou. He ranks ninth in school history with 147 career receptions and was a consensus First Team All-American in 2010 when he led the country in receptions for a tight end with 90 and amassed 762 yards through the air.

It’s been a bit of a down year for Mizzou in the draft compared to last year, which saw Blaine Gabbert and Aldon Smith taken in the top 10 picks. But it’s always exciting to see a Tiger get selected, no matter where in the draft he goes. Egnew should fit in nicely with the Dolphins and could compete for a decent amount of playing time this season as a back up tight end. Miami is a rebuilding team and appear to be headed in the right direction with either Tannehill or Moore at the helm, and Egnew will be sure to contribute to the project. Egnew was a class act in his four years at Mizzou and will serve the NFL well as its latest ambassador from the University of Missouri.