Aaron Mellette Post NFL Draft Speech to Family and Friends

ELON, N.C. – Elon University senior wide receiver Aaron Mellette was selected by the Super Bowl champion Baltimore Ravens in the 2013 NFL Draft on Saturday, April 27. Mellette, a seventh-round selection and 238th player drafted overall, is first Elon player selected in the NFL Draft since the Jacksonville Jaguars drafted Chad Nkang in the seventh round in 2007.

"I was so happy," said Mellette.  "My entire family was here with me.  I had some friends and former teammates here.  They stayed with me the whole time.  We had been sitting here all day waiting to hear my name and I was starting to talk to teams about free agency.  Luckily, Ozzie Newsome (Baltimore's General Manager) called me and told me they were going to take me.  My dreams as a college athlete came true when they called my name.

"I love their style of play.  They started airing it out toward the end of the year.  I just want to catch passes and make things happen.  I'm looking forward to the atmosphere of being with the defending champs.  I like to consider myself a winner and Baltimore fits my mold.  I'll come in and do whatever's needed."

A Sanford, N.C., native, Mellette was a first-team All-Southern Conference selection by both the league's coaches and media members and placed eighth in the voting for the Walter Payton Award, which is presented  annually to the top player in the Football Championship Subdivision in 2012. Mellette ended the season with a league-leading 108 points and 18 receiving touchdowns. Mellette’s 18 touchdown catches are tied for the second-most ever in a single season in SoCon history.  In his senior year, Mellette caught 97 passes for 1,398 yards.  He led the SoCon and ranked second nationally in both receptions per game (8.82) and receiving yards per game (127.09) following the regular season.  He eclipsed 100 receiving yards in eight of Elon's 11 contests, including matching career-highs with 237 yards and three touchdowns against Appalachian State on Oct. 6.  Mellette posted a six-game span in which he caught at least two touchdowns.

Following his senior season, Mellette also collected All-America honors from The Associated Press, Walter Camp Football Foundation, American Football Coaches Association, The Sports Network/Fathead.com, College Sporting News, Phil Steele and College Sports Journal.

Mellette finished his career at Elon with 304 receptions for 4,254 yards and 44 touchdowns.

"I want to thank everyone at Elon for the past four and a half years - from Coach Lembo to Coach Swepson and both staffs, the the fans and the administration," added Mellette.  "I want to thank every one for their support.  I get to open a new chapter of my life now, the final chapter in my football career."

Organized team activities (OTAs) for the Ravens are scheduled for May 21-23, May 29-31 and June 4-7. Mandatory minicamp is scheduled for June 11-13.  The draftees, undrafted free agents and those invited for a tryout will head to Baltimore on Thursday for a rookie minicamp.