Party time: It was loud and boisterous as local fans celebrated Skyline grad Kenyon Sadiq getting drafted by the New York Jets (updated)

IDAHO FALLS – From tiny Arimo to Idaho Falls, to the University of Oregon, Kenyon Sadiq said he always had a goal to be the best football player he could be.

Eventually playing in the NFL?

Why not?

That dream became reality Thursday night as Sadiq was selected by the New York Jets 16th overall in the first round of the NFL Draft.

While the Draft was in Pittsburgh, Eagle Rock Middle School served as host for the local viewing party.

The auditorium was packed with young players wearing Skyline shirts, others wearing Vikings gear, and a few in Oregon jerseys.

Sadiq, who helped lead Skyline to three consecutive state titles and developed into one of the top tight ends in the country at Oregon, had obviously become a fan favorite in the community.

With the draft showing on a big screen, the atmosphere became charged as players were announced and teams made their picks.

The Skyline band played during breaks and even ESPN was in attendance with a camera.

As the selections moved along, the audience got anxious and louder after each pick, some groaning and even booing with each pick.

Then came a graphic that Kenyon Sadiq from Oregon was on the short list of best available players to be selected.

The audience, which had been waiting for its chance, cheered.

The New York Jets were slotted with the 16th pick.

“The New York Jets select Kenyon Sadiq, University of Oregon.”

The small auditorium erupted, as did the overflow crowd of about 100 next door in the gym. The band played loudly, the audience jumped, some high-fiving, some waving shirts. It was a perfect moment of celebration for a hometown hero who had worked his way from east Idaho to the bright lights of the NFL in New York.

Sadiq was shown on the screen, hugging his family. ESPN cut to a shot of the crowded viewing party, with plenty of youngsters wearing jerseys and cheering.

“It means a lot to the program,” Skyline’s Zyan Crockett said during the viewing party. “Anything is possible.”

Crockett was a freshman when Sadiq had his dominating senior season.

“As a freshman, I was like ‘Holy Cow,’” he said when seeing Sadiq on the field. “As a freshman you look up to everybody because they’re older, and Kenyon was a really great guy to look up to.”

Crockett will be playing at Idaho State next season.

Sadiq, at 6-3, 245 pounds, put himself in great draft position after an impressive NFL Combine that included running 4.39 in the 40-yard dash.

He was a key piece in Oregon’s offense, catching two touchdown passes in the Big Ten Championship game as a sophomore, and then setting an Oregon record with 51 catches by a tight end last year as a junior. He also caught eight touchdowns, and was a finalist for the John Mackay Award, given to the top tight end in the country.

At 21, he is one of the youngest selected the Draft.

Here are some of the reactions and takes following the Sadiq pick.

Sadiq talked to reporters following the draft, including Jack Bell from NYJets.com.

“Obviously the NFL is different and I have to clean some things up. But man … I’m not going to be scared to go hit somebody.”

At the end of the media session, Sadiq coolly and candidly responded to a question few pass catchers ever want to entertain: What about those 6 dropped passes?

“Yeah, that’s 100 percent accurate,” he said. “It’s definitely uncharacteristic. If you go and watch those drops, they’re the easy ones. That’s something I really took to the chest, taken on the chin and realized it’s something I need to improve on. So, improving hand-eye coordination has been huge for me. Strengthening my eyes, strengthening my mental. It’s the easy ones, and at the end of day, those are the hardest ones, too. But it’s just doing what I do — go out there and play football. And if you go look after Washington [Nov. 29], after I had my last drop, after that I didn’t have another one. I made that a point of emphasis and obviously, I was one of the last guys after practice catching balls or whatever it may be.”

Brian Costello, New York Post:
“It’s unreal,” Sadiq said. “It being the Jets, it’s special. I have some family down there. My sister currently lives in New York [as an NYU student], so I’m happy to get down there. Like I said, great interactions with all the staff, you know, in meetings and everything. I’m beyond excited, super grateful. I mean, David Bailey said already, man, that this organization is trending in the right direction. I’m just a piece that can help, and I’m ready to help.” 

Sadiq has the ability to line up as a receiver and is a versatile football player the Jets can move around the formation. The Jets just drafted Mason Taylor in the second round a year ago, so they now have a pair of athletic tight ends. 

“I think it’s versatility, speed and toughness, bro,” Sadiq said of his strengths. “Seriously, I can help in the run and the pass game. On top of that, I’m going to contribute on special teams as well. That’s what I did at Oregon. That’s what I’ll continue to do. I can create separation, but I can also go hit someone.

“I play fast and I play hard and that’s two things I pride myself on. I’m gonna go hit someone. I’m gonna run past someone. I’m gonna jump over someone.” 
Reich should be able to use Sadiq as a matchup nightmare. He is too fast for linebackers to cover and too big for defensive backs to cover. 

Connor Long, Jets X-Factor.
While many criticized the Jets for not selecting a wide receiver at that spot, they made the right decision by selecting the best overall weapon at the position rather than reaching on their board for the best available WR, especially with Carnell Tate and Jordyn Tyson no longer available.

At the next level, one of Sadiq’s most appealing traits is his alignment versatility. Under Dan Lanning last season, Sadiq logged more snaps in the slot (331) than he did in-line (314). That bodes well for how the team can integrate him alongside tight end Mason Taylor, who was a second-round pick in last year’s draft.

The board broke in a way where the top two consensus WRs were no longer available, but the Jets were still able to come away with a premium pass catcher at No. 16 in Sadiq. They were also able to secure a viable WR2 in the first round anyway, by trading up to No. 30 to land Omar Cooper Jr.

It wasn’t one of the players Jets fans were expecting, but the team landed its much-needed pass-catcher at No. 16 after all.