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Eric DeCosta, in his 4th year overseeing college personnel, was recently honored by The Sporting News as a one of the top young stars in sports...DeCosta, 35, who has been with the Ravens' organization since the team's 1st year in Baltimore (1996), manages the Ravens' draft preparation and coordinates the evaluation and ranking process of hundreds of NFL prospects.
Last spring, Eric led the Ravens during the NFL Draft, selecting DT Haloti Ngata (Oregon) as the team's No. 1 pick (12th overall)...Along with GM Ozzie Newsome, DeCosta and his staff followed with G/C Chris Chester (Oklahoma) in the 2nd round and CB David Pittman (Northwestern State) in the 3rd...In the 4th round, the Ravens selected WR Demetrius Williams (Oregon) and Georgia Tech's RB P.J. Daniels...Baltimore rounded out the draft with S Dawan Landry (5th round, Georgia Tech), TE Quinn Sypniewski (5th, Colorado), P/K Sam Koch (6th, Nebraska), CB Derrick Martin (6th, Wyoming) and LB/DE Ryan LaCasse (7th, Syracuse).
"There is an unbelievable trust that I have in Eric," says GM Ozzie Newsome. "Once he stepped into Phil (Savage)'s seat, he just took off. One of the amazing things that I saw was his ability to analyze a situation and then come to a conclusion really quickly. He is a quick study, and in the draft, you have to be that way."
Since becoming the team's college scouting director (2003), Eric and the football personnel staff have drafted 2003 Defensive Rookie of the Year LB Terrell Suggs, starting WR Mark Clayton, who had a record-breaking rookie year in 2005, key players such as DE Jarret Johnson, and up-and-comers OLB Dan Cody, T Adam Terry, G/C Jason Brown and FB Justin Green.
Prior to his promotion, Eric was the Ravens' Midwest area scout (1998-2002) and evaluated a number of players who eventually became Ravens draft picks...While an area scout, DeCosta spent time researching and analyzing draft-day trades and helped evaluate free agent prospects for the pro personnel department...With the Ravens, DeCosta worked with both the college and pro scouting staffs on the draft and free agency...Prior to the 1998 season, the Taunton, MA, native was promoted to area scout, after spending time in the fall of '97 scouting the Midwest...Eric's earliest NFL experience came in 1995 with an internship in the Washington Redskins' player personnel department.
DeCosta coached DLs and LBs for 2 seasons at Trinity College from 1994-95, while earning his master's degree in English...DeCosta has undergraduate degrees in English and the classics from Colby, earning Dean's List honors (1990-92).
A 3-year football letterman and captain at Colby, Eric played linebacker for head coach Tom Austin...As a senior, he was selected as the Millett Award recipient for outstanding athletic contributions over 4 years at Colby...DeCosta attended Taunton (MA) HS, where he played fullback and linebacker, earned 3 varsity letters, and as a senior, was voted team captain.
DeCosta is active with a number of charity organizations, including The Cystic Fibrosis Foundation, The Orphaned Starfish Foundation, which is dedicated to working with orphanages and homes for battered children in the developing world, and The Boys and Girls Club...He has assisted with numerous fundraisers and other charitable events for each organization...An avid runner, Eric, his wife, Lacie, and their daughter, Jane Elizabeth (3), reside in Baltimore.
COACHING BACKGROUND: 1994-95 (Trinity College) |
