The Cleveland Browns completed their draft class by selecting University of Arizona cornerback Trevin Wade and University of Alabama fullback Brad Smelley with two compensatory picks in the seventh round of the 2012 NFL Draft.
Wade, the 245th overall pick, is a 5-foot-11, 192-pound cornerback who started 35 of 50 career games for the Wildcats. He registered 138 solo tackles, 44 assists and 182 total stops in a Wildcats uniform.
Wade also intercepted 12 passes, returned two for touchdowns, broke up 33 passes and forced one fumble from his spot in Arizona’s secondary.
“I’m really smart, have great ball skills and I can anticipate things that are coming, so I’m also a hard tackler,” Wade said. “I’m just trying to bring a new, all-around cornerback to the Browns. We played a lot of man (-to-man). It was basically our main coverage. I’ve very comfortable with that.”
Listed as a fullback, Smelley served as a hybrid H-back out of the backfield. He caught 54 career passes for 559 yards and four touchdowns in his time with the Crimson Tide.
“They split me out wide; I’d be on the line as a traditional tight end; they’d put me in the backfield and move around,” Smelley said. “I was more of the move-around type. We had another guy that was more of a pulling tight end.”
In addition to his role of catching the ball out of the backfield, Smelley also served as a blocker for the Browns’ top pick in 2012, running back Trent Richardson.
Behind Smelley and Alabama’s offensive line, Richardson ran for 3,130 yards and 35 touchdowns on 540 carries. He rushed for 1,679 yards and 21 touchdowns on 283 carries in 2011.
“I can’t wait,” Smelley said. “Trent just called me and it was good to talk to him. It was good to know that I’m going to be with him because he’s an unbelievable player and I think he’s the best back I’ve ever played with, the best back I’ve ever seen in person. I’m excited to play with him again. He’s a great football player, but a better person. I love that guy.”
