m.ajc.com/sports/georgia-state/bilukidi-makes-history-as-1427926.html

Quote:In a historic moment for Georgia State sports,
defensive tackle Christo Bilukidi was selected by
the Oakland Raiders in the sixth round of the NFL
draft Saturday.

Bilukidi is the first player in the program’s short
history to be drafted by a NFL team.
“It opens doors now,” he said. “Georgia State has
a lot of athletes. Downtown Atlanta is a huge
media market. It’s good that we are moving to
FBS. It will open doors to athletes at Georgia
State. It’s great for the community.”
Bilukidi had 89 tackles with 10 sacks in Georgia
State’s two seasons. He was mentioned as
perhaps a late-round selection leading to the
draft. He worked out for or visited with more than
a dozen teams, including Oakland. But he was
mostly considered as a legitimate prospect for the
Canadian Football League. He, along with his
coaches, may have been one of the few who
wasn’t surprised when the Raiders picked him at
No. 189.
“I’m not surprised at all,” he said. “I worked hard
for it.”
Georgia State coach Bill Curry said he wasn’t
surprised that Bilukidi was selected. Curry said
that he hasn’t been part of NFL evaluations, but
he “recognizes a NFL player when I see one.
“He did the job on the field and off the field.”
While making history is nice, being a footnote
isn’t the goal. Bilukidi said playing in the NFL is
the goal, and his coaches think he could become
a solid performer.
Chris Ward, who coaches defensive tackles at
Georgia State, said because of Bilukidi’s size (6-
foot-5, 315 pounds), speed (4.9 seconds in the
40-yard dash) and ability to change direction, he
could become really good.
“He hasn’t peaked yet,” Ward said. “You put him
around other NFL players, and he’s only going to
get better.”
Former Georgia State defensive coordinator John
Thompson said he likes Bilukidi’s intelligence and
ability to rush the passer. Like Ward, Thompson
said Bilukidi is only going to get better and
predicts he will have a long, productive career.
Bilukidi has an unusual back story. A native of
Angola, he lived in France and Brazil before his
family moved to Canada. He speaks fluent French.
He played one year of football in high school in
Ontario, saying the NFL wasn’t a consideration
then. He signed with Eastern Arizona Junior
College and then with Georgia State. He said that
he learned while playing under Curry, whom
Bilukidi said was his inspiration, that he could
compete on the highest level.
“Christo has a chance to really make it because of
his own merits: His work ethic, he’s tough and
he’s smart,” Curry said.
Bilukidi won’t have a lot of time to celebrate. He
will graduate with a degree in sociology May 6
and then report to minicamp May 10.
The historic effect of the moment is being felt in
Georgia State’s football program. Ward said he
was receiving email after email and text after text
from current players Saturday afternoon who said
they are going to work even harder now that
they’ve seen one of their own get chosen by a
NFL team.
Curry said Bilukidi’s selection and the move to the
Sun Belt Conference will help recruiting because
high school players want to know if professional
football is a possibility.
“I’ve heard from our players and players around
the state because of the recent moves, guys who
are getting the word out,”’ Curry said. “Hopefully,
it will also show that those who stay the course
and don’t make mistakes that are not correctable
will benefit.”

Congratulations to our newest Conference members!

Feels good doesn't it? You'll also like it when they show the lineups during the game and list your school under his name.

So proud of him and the hard work he put in

Congrats!

I think I remember him from the game against South.
Good player.