TOLEDO, Ohio — Toledo native Tycen Anderson is staying in Ohio after being selected by the Cincinnati Bengals in the NFL Draft.
The St. John's grad and safety at the University of Toledo was picked in the 5th round by the defending AFC Champions.
Anderson was the 166th pick overall in the draft. The Bengals traded up to pick him.
Anderson had a standout performance in the Senior Bowl and the NFL Combine leading up to the draft.
Anderson was a three-year captain at the University of Toledo and is a very versatile player.
When he got the call Saturday that he'd been drafted, Anderson was in Toledo, surrounded by celebrating family and friends.
"It's amazing. These are the people who have been around since I was a little kid," Anderson said. "It's a blessing just to soak up this moment with them all."
Seeing the call come in on his phone made his stomach drop, Anderson said.
"It was a lot of stuff going through my mind," he said.
Getting to play for a team that just went to the Super Bowl last season is special, he said, as is getting to stay in Ohio.
Anderson said one the appeals of playing at the University of Toledo was that his friends and family could easily make it to his games. Playing in Cincinnati also will make it easy for his local supporters to see him play, Anderson said.