Rebels’ Hawley, Wolfe are bound for Atlanta

Atlanta was one of four NFL teams to schedule a private workout with UNLV offensive lineman Joe Hawley, so he wasn't surprised when the Falcons called Saturday morning.

He was surprised they called so early, though.

Hawley, projected as a likely late-round pick, was selected by the Falcons in the fourth round of the NFL Draft as the 117th overall pick.

Hawley was the only Rebel drafted, but not the only local. Valley High graduate Stevenson Sylvester, a linebacker at Utah, was chosen in the fifth round (No. 166) by the Pittsburgh Steelers. Also, UNLV wide receiver Ryan Wolfe (Falcons) and linebacker Jason Beauchamp (New Orleans Saints) signed contracts as undrafted free agents.

Hawley said he was "ecstatic" to join the Falcons.

"They have a tough-nosed offensive line," he said. "It's a good locker room. They don't take a lot of off-field stuff. They said I'll fit in with the profile they're looking for."

Hawley (6 feet 3 inches, 297 pounds) became the highest-drafted UNLV offensive lineman. Lonnie Palelei, the previous high pick, was taken in the fifth round in 1993 by the Pittsburgh Steelers.

This is the fourth consecutive year UNLV has had at least one player drafted, and the sixth time in seven years.

Hawley is able to play guard and center, and the Falcons have needs at both positions. They are projecting Hawley at center to play behind Todd McClure, an 11-year veteran.

"They want me to come in and learn from him and eventually step in and play," said Hawley, who will attend minicamp starting May 6.

The other local drafted, Sylvester (6-2, 231), didn't expect the Steelers to call. He hadn't had contact with the team leading up to the draft, but was pleasantly surprised when his phone rang.

"The Steelers are a dream come true because they have a great defense," Sylvester said. "For the last three years, I've followed Mike Tomlin and thought he was a great coach, and I wanted to play for him."

Sylvester will have some competition. The Steelers targeted other outside linebackers, choosing Jason Worilds of Virginia Tech in the second round and Thaddeus Gibson of Ohio State in the fourth. Sylvester is an outside backer, but will move inside, where James Farrior and Lawrence Timmons start.

"If (Sylvester is) good enough to make our football team, then we'll find room for him somewhere," Steelers linebackers coach Keith Butler said. "That's a good problem to have."

Sylvester will report Friday for organized team activities, and the following week will graduate from Utah with degrees in economics and mass communications.

Then he can turn full attention to his NFL career.

"It's my type of team that likes to blitz," Sylvester said.

Wolfe (6-1, 205) and Beauchamp (6-3, 244) signed within minutes after the draft, a sign they were high priorities for their respective teams.

In Wolfe's case, he interviewed with the Falcons in Las Vegas, so he knew before the draft that Atlanta was a likely destination.

"They've shown the most interest in me from the beginning, and I'm pretty comfortable with them," said Wolfe, the leading receiver in UNLV history.

Beauchamp said he was told by the Super Bowl champion Saints that he could "play right away," and that signing as a free agent was better than getting drafted because he could pick his team.

"I almost didn't want to get picked in the sixth or seventh round," Beauchamp said. "From what I see, the Saints are by far the best situation for me. I'm glad I didn't get picked up."

Contact reporter Mark Anderson at manderson@reviewjournal.com or 702-387-2914.