NFL Draft: Long Island natives sign free-agent deals after going undrafted
Jake Carlock of LIU Post waits for the snap at the first round NCAA Division II football game against Slippery Rock in Brookville on Nov. 17, 2018. Credit: Peter Frutkoff
A handful of Long Islanders may not have been drafted this weekend, but their dreams of playing in the NFL continue on — and two of them are staying local.
LIU Post defensive back Jake Carlock (Babylon) and Buffalo center James O’Hagan (Seaford) both agreed to undrafted free-agent deals with the Giants shortly after the draft ended Saturday. Villanova offensive tackle Ethan Greenidge (Flanders) agreed to a deal with the Saints, Ohio State lineman Malcolm Pridgeon (Central Islip) agreed with the Texans and Rutgers tackle Tariq Cole (Long Beach) agreed with the Cardinals.
Carlock was a two-time All-Long Island first-team selection and Hansen Award finalist as a senior in 2013. He also won the Rob Burnett Award as the most outstanding defensive player in Suffolk and the Tom Cassese Award for most outstanding defensive back in Suffolk. Babylon went undefeated and won back-to-back Class IV Long Island Championships in his junior and senior seasons.
Carlock initially signed to play his college ball at Stony Brook but transferred to LIU Post, where he earned Northeast-10 Defensive Player of the Year and led the Pioneers with 67 tackles, 11 pass breakups, and three fumble recoveries in his senior season. He had five interceptions in his two seasons at LIU Post.
O’Hagan also was a two-time All-Long Island first-team selection at Seaford. He was a finalist for the Martone Award (Nassau’s most outstanding interior lineman) in his senior season for the Vikings. He start every game at center for Buffalo since 2015 and was named third-team All-MAC in 2018.
O’Hagan also was a standout wrestler in high school, winning the state Division I 285-pound title in 2014.
Greenidge was mamber of the Riverhead teams that reached consecutive Class II Long Island Championship games in 2012-13. He went on to become a four-year starter at Villanova, playing 40 games at left tackle and three last season on the right side.
Villanova offensive lineman Ethan Greenidge, a Riverhead High School graduate, blocks Stony Brook linebacker Keegan Henderson at LaValle Stadium in Stony Brook on Sept. 29, 2018. Credit: Daniel De Mato
He played in the East-West Shrine Game in January, where he was able to show his stuff to scouts from all 32 teams, but he did not participate in any drills at the NFL Scouting Combine or at Villanova’s Pro Day while recovering from a torn shoulder labrum suffered in midseason. He played through the injury and underwent surgery in late January after the Shrine Game. The injury may have been a factor in why he went undrafted, but Greenidge said at the combine that he expected to be cleared for football activities in mid-May.
Pridgeon was a key part in helping to keep Redskins first-round pick Dwayne Haskins upright. The Central Islip product, a second-team All-Long Island selection and Cassese Award finalist in 2013, started every game for the Buckeyes in 2018 and played in every game in 2017 after transferring from Nassau CC.
Cole was a two-time Newsday All-Long Island second-team selection at Long Beach. The left tackle was a team captain in 2018 and part of an offensive line unit that ranked second in the conference and 19th in the nation with 1.33 sacks allowed per game. He also was All-Big Ten honorable mention in 2016 and 2017 and started 34 career games for the Scarlet Knights.
Nick Klopsis is Newsday.com's sports editor. He often can be found studying NFL and college football film for his latest draft breakdown.
