Etowah Alum Drafted by Browns

NEW YORK–The Cleveland Browns selected Woodstock native Buster Skrine in the fifth round of this year’s NFL draft, 137th overall.

Skrine, a standout at the University of Tennessee at Chattanooga, was a two-time first team All-Southern Conference selection as a defensive back.

“He’s super athletic and can fly,” said Browns General Manager Tom Heckert in a statement on the team’s website. “He’s a really fast kid. I think he’s had four different position coaches, so I think he can only get better. We’re excited to have him. I think he can play outside; he can play inside for us. We think he’s a good player that can run.”

A captain his senior year at UTC, Skrine was part of the transformation of a team that was 1-11 in 2008 and won 12 games combined in 2009 and 2010.

"Buster was chosen because of the hard work he put in to get himself ready to play at that level," UTC Head Coach Russ Huesman said in a statement. "He is an unbelievable kid who deserves a chance because of his work ethic. I am very proud of him and am fully confident that he will make the team and be on a roster in the fall." 

At the NFL Combine, he ran a 4.29 40-yard dash and recorded the fastest official time in the 60-yard shuttle with a mark of 10.75.

Skrine is the highest UTC alum drafted since Terrell Owens was selected in the third round by San Francisco in 1996.

At he led Cherokee County in rushing with 1,071 yards and 15 touchdowns as a senior, was named Cherokee County Player of the Year, and helped the Eagles win the school’s first Region 5-AAAAA title.