Chris Polk, a graduate of Redlands East Valley, had been projected as a second-round pick in this weekend's NFL Draft.
But as Saturday's seventh round ended, Polk was still on the board.
The running back from the University of Washington, however, will still get a chance to pursue his dream of playing in the NFL.
According to CBS Sports.com's NFLDraftScout.com, Polk signed a free agent deal with the Philadelphia Eagles shortly after the draft ended.
Reports indicated that NFL teams were concerned with one of Polk's shoulders, which he had previously injured and had surgically repaired. Polk had the shoulder checked out by well-known orthopedic surgeon Dr. James Andrews, who gave Polk a clean bill of health.
"I will just have to go out there and show them I have a lot of great football left in me," Polk told NFLDraftScout.com after agreeing to a deal with the Eagles. "I know teams are concerned about my shoulder, but I also heard somebody say something about a degenerative hip and there is just no truth to that. I had labrum surgery on the shoulder a year ago and it didn't slow me down last season."
Polk told the website that he was disappointed with the outcome of the three-day draft, but is looking to prove the critics wrong.
"Of course I would have preferred to be drafted and drafted high," Polk said. "But the main thing now is that I am with a great offensive team and I will get my opportunity to show what I can do in the NFL."
