How an NFL dream came true for former Savannah Christian and NC State star Dylan McMahon
Dylan McMahon had aspired for the moment since his days playing youth football, and the dream came true for the Savannah Christian and North Carolina State product on Saturday afternoon when his name was called in the NFL Draft.
The 6-foot-3, 299-pound center was a four-year starter with the Wolfpack and was selected in the sixth round, with the 190th overall pick by the Philadelphia Eagles.
McMahon starred on both sides of the ball in his prep days at Savannah Christian. An All-ACC honorable mention pick at NC State as a senior, he had a strong showing at the NFL Combine and appealed to scouts with his versatility and ability to play at either guard position as well as center.
"I was with my family in Raleigh with one of my brothers, my mom and dad and my wife when I found out I was drafted," said McMahon, who married his wife Emma, also an SCPS alum, earlier this month. "We thought I would get picked sometime midway through the fifth round or later. Philadelphia had shown interest early on, and when I got the call and saw the Philly area code I was pretty fired up — it was surreal."
McMahon was born with football in his blood. His older brother Ryan played for two years at Savannah Christian before transferring on to Darlington School in Rome. He became a star center at Florida State, earning All-ACC honors, and now coaches at Glennville State in West Virginia.
In his senior year at Savannah Christian, Dylan McMahon anchored both sides of the line for the Raiders, who reached the Class A Private state semifinals in Baker Woodward's first season leading the program. McMahon had 86 tackles and four sacks, while leading the offensive line.
"You don't get many chances to coach a player, and person, like Dylan," Woodward said after McMahon was picked Saturday. "He's a guy who just loves the sport of football. He enjoys the process of becoming a better player and has the drive to succeed on the field, in the weight room and in the classroom. When he was here, nobody could move him on the offensive line and he was equally as good at defensive tackle. He's a great person off the field and I was lucky enough to go to his wedding a couple weeks ago. We're praying he has a great career in Philadelphia."
McMahon said he has great memories from his days at Savannah Christian and still keeps in close contact with his Raider teammates and coaches. He said an old high school text chat group was blowing up on Saturday with an outpouring of support from his friends.
He said his time at NC State helped him develop as coaches fostered an environment where there was no "babysitting" and players had to figure out what worked best for them.
Asked to describe his style of play, McMahon said it was a combination of physical and mental attributes.
"I'm a little bit undersized to be up front, but I'm athletic and I can be nasty when I need to be," McMahon. "That nasty side helps when they try to bull rush me. But I've got a high football IQ and know what's coming before it happens a lot of times."
McMahon said the last few weeks have been a whirlwind, and now he's ready to get to work.
"We got married back in Savannah, so it's been a little stressful with a lot of life changes and then with the Combine and the Draft," McMahon said. "I'll take a couple days to breathe then I'll learn a new playbook and start working to make the team."
Dennis Knight covers sports for the Savannah Morning News. Contact him at Dknight@savannahnow.com. Twitter: @DennisKnightSMN
This article originally appeared on Savannah Morning News: Former Savannah Christian lineman McMahon drafted by Philadelphia Eagles
