Former Gilman and Calvert Hall defensive standouts selected by Houston and Tennessee, respectively, on Day 3 of NFL Draft; Randallstown’s Christian Benford also picked in the 6th round by Buffalo
It was an exciting day on Saturday for two former Baltimore area defensive stalwarts, as Gilman alum Thomas Booker of Gilman and former Calvert Hall star Chase Campbell heard their names called on Day 3 of the 2022 NFL Draft.
Booker, a 6-foot-3 defensive tackle from Stanford, was selected in the 5th round by the Houston Texans.
Thomas was a coach’s dream at Stanford from day one. He was named a True Freshman All-American in 2018 by 247 Sports, as well as well as an Honorable Mention All-Pac 10 pick. He was a 2nd-Team All-Pac 10 pick in 2020 and 2021, as well as a 1st-Team All-Pac 10 Special Teams performer in 2020. He was a team captain in his junior and senior seasons and received.
He had a career 59 tackles as a senior, including five for loss. He added 1.5 sacks, six hurries and one pass breakup.
At Gilman he was a two-time All Metro selection, an All-State selection as a senior and a member of two MIAA A Conference championship teams. Over his last two seasons with the Greyhounds he recorded 116 tackles, nine sacks, and 23 tackles for loss. He also forced a fumble, intercepted a pass and blocked two field goal attempts.
Thomas projects as rotational piece on the Titans defensive front as well as potential special teams ace.
Campbell, a 6-foot-3, 232 pound linebacker, was taken in the 6th round by the Tennessee Titans.
After three years at the University of Maryland, Campbell transferred to Mississippi for his senior year where he led the Rebels in tackles with 109, including 12.5 for loss. His three fumble recoveries were tops in the SEC and the third most in the nation.
At Maryland he was All-Big Ten Honorable Mention selection when he led the Terms with 43 tackles and 5.5 for loss.
At Calvert Hall, Campbell emerged over four years from a potential contributor into a bonafide star who had 17 known scholarship offers at the time he committed to Maryland. The entire defense revolved around his play-making abilities and the Cardinals won four straight Turkey Bowls during his time in the program.
He is also projected as special teams performer who will have to fight for a roster spot or a place on the practice squad.
Also selected in the sixth round on Saturday, by the Buffalo Bills, was Christian Benford, a graduated of Randallstown High School. Benford, a defensive back out of Villanova, was a 1st-Team All-Colonial Athletic Association pick as both a junior and a senior, as well as the CAA’s Rookie of the Year in 2018.
Benford started his high school career as a junior varsity player at Calvert Hall before transferring to Randallstown where he recorded 17 career interceptions and blossomed into an All-Metro and All-State selection.
