UMass Boston

The National Football League's Minnesota Vikings selected BostonState College football player Erle Garrett in the 17th round,making him the first football player in the school's history to bedrafted by a professional team. Garrett played four seasons for theWarriors, including his freshman campaign on the club team, seeingaction as a fullback and tailback, before settling in at hisprimary position of defensive back. A 1974 graduate of BostonState, Garrett also played in 31 games over the 1971-72 and 1972-73seasons for the Warriors' basketball team, helping them to a 40-11(.784) record as a guard. Following his collegiate football career,he starred for six years in the Eastern Football League and wasselected to the All-League squad at defensive back every season.Garrett's playing career eventually gave way to a successfulcoaching career that saw him mentor basketball and football playersin Boston City High Schools as well as in South Boston and at LatinAcademy. He also became the first African American golf coach atLatin Academy.