Wheeling, W. Va. - As the Wheeling University Football team continues preparations for the 2022 season, they are looking to build on what was one of the best seasons in program history in 2021. The team set the program wins record going 5-6 overall and 5-5 in Mountain East Conference (MEC) play and they are starting to garner National Attention. On Tuesday, NFL Draft Diamonds began releasing their 2023 NFL Draft Prospect interviews and two Cardinals players were among those highlighted for the upcoming 2023 NFL Draft.
Wide receiver Lowell Patron and defensive back Rich White III both sat down with NFL Draft Diamond's Damond Talbot in an interview highlighting some of the best college prospects from NCAA Division II, Division III, and NAIA. They sit down for an interview where they talk about how they got into the sport, some of their skills, and why they should be considered a top prospect in the upcoming draft. Both Patron and White have made big contributions during their time in Wheeling uniforms so far, and both players look to add to that legacy as they enter the upcoming 2022 season.
2021 was a career year in the secondary for White as he was routinely matched up with the opposition's top wide receiver. He responded by setting a career-high with 16 pass breakups, which tied him for the MEC lead, and two interceptions, including the interception that set up the game winning score in overtime of the Homecoming game against West Liberty. While the Cardinals had several big tacklers on the year, White was still able to get in on the action, registering 36.0 total tackles to rank eighth on the squad. White earned All-MEC First Team honors for his efforts and added the program's first-ever Don Hansen NCAA Division II All-American Award. White has helped build the program from the ground up and is back to end his career on a high note.
Patron made his Wheeling debut during the 2021 season, after playing the previous two seasons at Bluefield State, and immediately made his presence known. He was the Cardinals top target during the season and led the team in catches (48) and receiving yards (548). After recording just three catches for 19 yards in his first two games of the season, Patron broke out against Alderson Broaddus where he hauled in 10 catches for 177 yards and two touchdowns in the team's 28-6 win. He set the program record for receiving yards in a game and after that he had 50 or more receiving yards in six of the remaining eight games. Patron returns for his second season with the Cardinals and once again looks to be one of the team's top targets in 2022.
To see the full NFL Draft Diamonds interview with Lowell Patron, click HERE and to see the interview with Rich White III click HERE. The Wheeling University Football team kicks off the 2022 season with a Thursday night special when they host Seton Hill on September 1st with kickoff scheduled for 7 PM at Bishop Schmitt Field.
