SPORTS

NFL Draft: Cole Schneider, Deven Thompkins, ZaQuandre White, Cameron Kaye, Lukas Masterson, Oscar Shadley sign

Izubee Charles Greg Hardwig
Fort Myers News-Press

After three days and 262 picks, the 2022 NFL draft concluded Saturday night with no Southwest Florida products chosen.

But it didn't take long for teams to swoop in and start signing area players as undrafted free agents.

Golden Gate High School graduate Oscar Shadley, Gulf Coast High School graduates Cameron Kaye and Lukas Masterson, Riverdale High School graduate Cole Schneider, Dunbar graduate Deven Thompkins, and North Fort Myers High graduate ZaQuandre White all announced within hours of the draft concluding that they had signed with NFL teams.

2022 NFL Draft:Southwest Florida prospects who could be picked or signed as free agents

Plus:What if NFL teams could draft Southwest Florida high school players. Who would they pick?

Here's a look at each player and where they are headed:

Cameron Kaye, a redshirt junior, has been the starting long snapper at Troy University for three years.

Cameron Kaye

Kaye was a long snapper at Troy, and signed with the Green Bay Packers late Saturday.

He played in the Hula Bowl and the NFLPA Collegiate Bowl all-star games.

Kaye had been in Birmingham, Alabama, working out with other draft-eligible and NFL punters and kickers, and before the draft said he talked to between seven to nine teams. 

"I'm very thankful for the opportunity and I'm ready to make the most of it," Kaye said via text.

College football:Gulf Coast grads Cameron Kaye, Luke Masterson playing in Hula Bowl

Kaye was nominated for the Wuerffel Trophy for community service in 2020, led the Sun Belt and was ranked third in the Group of Five conferences and 14th nationally among long snappers by Pro Football Focus in 2019.

This season, Kaye was named a Special Teams U Third-Team All-American in November and was a semifinalist for the Patrick Mannelly Award, which goes to the nation's top long snapper. He entered this season with 500 snaps in his college career with a 99.8% success rate.

Wake Forest linebacker Luke Masterson, shown in the TaxSlayer Gator Bowl on Dec. 31 in Jacksonville, signed as an undrafted free agent with the Las Vegas Raiders following the NFL Draft on Saturday.

Lukas Masterson

The Wake Forest linebacker texted the Naples Daily News on Saturday night announcing he had signed with the Las Vegas Raiders.

"Just how thankful I am for the opportunity that God opened up for me and for everyone that's helped me get to this point," Masterson said via text. "My wife, family, teammates, coaches and trainers have each uniquely helped me through every part of this incredible journey and there's no way I'd be in the position I'm in without them.

"I can't wait to compete and prove my value to the Raiders organization."

Masterson went to the Hula Bowl and made the most of his performance, earning Defensive MVP honors.

He shifted from a safety or rover position to linebacker, played in all 14 games, and had a team-high 85 tackles, 57 solo tackles, 13 tackles for loss, and 2.5 sacks. He tied the team-high with seven tackles in the TaxSlayer Gator Bowl, a 38-10 win over Rutgers.

Masterson had been training in Fort Myers at X3 Performance and said he talked to "a good amount" of teams before the draft.

UCF Knights running back Mark-Antony Richards (6) scores a touchdown during the first quarter against Connecticut Huskies as Cole Schneider sets to block at Bounce House in Orlando.

Cole Schneider

The former University of Central Florida guard was quickly snatched up after the draft, signing with the Green Bay Packers.

Over his five seasons at UCF, Schneider started 46 out of the 48 career games and was a staple for the Knights offensive line unit. 

Cole Schneider:Cole Schneider, former Riverdale wrestling champ, fights for NFL future at UCF's pro day

And:UCF's Mr. Consistent Cole Schneider will wrap his college career vs. Florida in the Gasparilla Bowl

Schneider will join Kaye, linebacker De'Vondre Campbell (Cypress Lake), quarterback Kurt Benkert (Island Coast), wide receiver Sammy Watkins (South Fort Myers), and Kaye as members of the Packers from Southwest Florida.

Pittsburgh's Jaylon Barden (10) stiff arms Virginia Tech long snapper Oscar Shadley (97) during a punt return in the first half of an NCAA college football game, Saturday Oct. 16 2021, in Blacksburg, Va. (Matt Gentry/The Roanoke Times via AP)

Oscar Shadley

Shadley, who played at Virginia Tech, is headed to the New Orleans Saints, he said via text.

Shadley played in 45 games with the Hokies and snapped for all of their games last season. He was ranked as the top long snapper in the nation out of high school by Rubio Long Snapping.

Oct 16, 2021; Paradise, Nevada, USA; Utah State Aggies wide receiver Deven Thompkins (13) eyes the end zone after making a 37-yard reception against the UNLV Rebels at Allegiant Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Stephen R. Sylvanie-USA TODAY Sports

Deven Thompkins

The Biletnikoff semifinalist and Utah State standout will not have to travel too far from Fort Myers, as the speedy wideout signed with the Tampa Bay Buccaneers.

Thompkins' senior campaign saw him finish second in the country in receiving yards, racking up 1,704 yards and 10 touchdowns.

Previously:Utah State receiver, Fort Myers native Deven Thompkins having a mountain of a season

South Carolina running back ZaQuandre White (11) scores a touchdown during the first half of an NCAA college football game against Auburn, Saturday, Nov. 20, 2021, in Columbia, S.C. (AP Photo/Sean Rayford)

ZaQuandre White

The North Fort Myers grad will be taking his talents to South Beach after the running back out of South Carolina signed with the Dolphins.  

After transferring from Florida State to Iowa Western Community College, the running back returned to the Division I level at South Carolina where he rushed for 583 yards and two touchdowns last season. He will compete for a spot in the Dolphins running back room which added Raheem Mostert and Chase Edmonds in free agency.