HOFSTRA'S COLON AND COLSTON SELECTED IN NFL DRAFT

For Immediate Release
April 30, 2006
Contact: Jim Sheehan
(516) 463-6764

HEMPSTEAD, New York - Hofstra University senior offensive tackle Willie Colon (Bronx, NY/Cardinal Hayes) and wide receiver Marques Colston (Harrisburg, PA/Susquehanna Township) were selected on day two of the
2006 National Football League Draft Sunday. Colon, selected by the Pittsburgh Steelers, and Colston, picked by the New Orleans Saints, become the ninth and tenth Hofstra football players ever picked in the NFL draft and the first since Giovanni Carmazzi was selected in the third round of the 2000 draft by the San Francisco 49ers. In addition, this marks the first time the Pride has ever had two players drafted in the same NFL draft.

Hofstra University will hold a press conference on Tuesday, May 2 at Noon with Colon and Colston, as well as with any Hofstra-NFL free agent signees, in the Margiotta Hall Pride Club Lounge in the south end zone of James. M. Shuart Stadium.

Colon became the Pride's first drafted player of the 2006 NFL draft when the Pittsburgh Steelers selected the offensive lineman with the 34th pick in the fourth round (131st overall). He closed his senior season with the Pride by picking up a multitude of honors. The highlight of them was earning a first team I-AA All-America honor by both the Walter Camp Foundation and the American Football Coaches Association (AFCA).

Colon, who anchored a line for an offense (429.8 ypg) that ranked second in the A10 and 15th in I-AA in 2005, was also named to the All-Atlantic 10 first team, the Associated Press All-America third team, and the Sports Network I-AA All-America third team. In addition, Colon was also named to the Don Hansen's Football Gazette Northeast Regional First Team.

Colon, who started 34 consecutive games at offensive tackle after moving over from the defensive line following the 2002 season, anchored a line for an offense that saw the Pride passing attack ranked first in the Atlantic 10 and third in the country, averaging 306.45 passing yards per game.

Colston, who completed his college career last season by breaking the Pride's career receiving yards record, was drafted in the seventh round of the NFL Draft by the New Orleans Saints. He was selected with the 44th pick of the seventh round, the 252nd pick overall in this year's draft. An All-Atlantic 10 first team selection in 2005, Colston was second in the conference in receiving yards with 975 on a career-best 70 receptions with five touchdowns. He broke the Hofstra career receiving yards record that was formerly held by current Denver Bronco Charlie Adams. He was also the first Hofstra player to play in the East-West Shrine Game that was held this past January in San Antonio, Texas. In that senior all-star game, he caught five passes for 82 yards and one touchdown.

Colston finished his four-year career with a school record 2,834 receiving yards and ranks second on the Hofstra career receptions chart with 182. In 2003, Colston broke Wayne Chrebet's Hofstra record of 245 receiving yards in a single game when he hauled in seven passes for 267 yards and three touchdowns at Liberty.


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Jim Sheehan
Associate Athletic Director for Communications Hofstra University
516-463-6764 - Office