A weekend that started with great promise for four Syracuse football players ended with some disappointment for all but one.

Adam Terry, the 6-foot-8 offensive tackle, was the only Orange player drafted in this weekend’s NFL Draft. Baltimore used the last pick of the second round (64) to select Terry, projected as a second or third round pick. The Ravens received the pick from New England in exchange for a third- and sixth-round pick in this year’s draft and a third round pick in the 2006 NFL Draft.

Running back Walter Reyes, center Matt Tarullo and safety Diamond Ferri were projected as second-day picks (fourth through seventh rounds), but were not selected.

Terry is the highest Syracuse player taken in the NFL Draft since defensive end Dwight Freeney, now with the Indianapolis Colts, went 11th in the 2002 draft. He is expected to challenge right tackle Orlando Brown for a spot in the Ravens’ starting lineup. Terry is the first SU player selected by the Ravens.

Tarullo signed a two-year deal with Dallas on Sunday after the draft and was pleased he would be vying for an NFL roster spot. He will be reunited with former Syracuse head coach Paul Pasqualoni, who is now serving as tight ends coach for the Cowboys. Tarullo already was in talks with several NFL teams before the draft occurred.

He will start working out with the Cowboys on Thursday.

‘Everything’s fine,’ Tarullo said. ‘Everything’s great. It worked out.’

This year’s draft was especially deep at running back. Nineteen backs were selected over the seven rounds, including nine in the first three rounds. Hadley Engelhard, Reyes’ agent, predicted early last week this draft would be tough for running backs, but still expected his client would be drafted based on Reyes’ accomplishments at Syracuse.

Although Reyes was not selected, he did receive interest in the days leading up to the draft, and like Tarullo, should sign a free agent contract this week.

Both Engelhard and Reyes couldn’t be reached for comment Sunday evening.

Ferri has been contacted by several teams wanting to sign him. He was upbeat about his prospects with the teams, but refused to name them at this time.

‘Some teams are interested,’ Ferri said. ‘I gotta go to some camps first.’

Published on April 24, 2005 at 12:00 pm