Three South Jersey natives are headed to the NFL after being drafted this weekend

Three South Jersey natives heard their names called at the 2024 NFL Draft this weekend.

Cedar Creek High School graduate Max Melton was selected by the Arizona Cardinals in Friday’s second round with the 43rd overall picked while Timber Creek High School produced two draftees in Tarheeb Still (fifth round, 137th overall pick) to the Los Angeles Chargers and Devin Leary (sixth, 218th) to the Baltimore Ravens on Saturday.

Two more locals were signed as undrafted free agents by the Baltimore Ravens on Saturday night. Yvondy Rigby, of Egg Harbor Township, and Deion Jennings (Timber Creek/Rutgers) are both linebackers.

Melton, a 5-foot-11, 190-pound cornerback, started 40 games at Rutgers University. He provides the Cardinals with plenty of versality in the secondary with his ability to play inside and outside and recorded 114 tackles, eight interceptions, four blocked punts and four fumble recoveries with the Scarlet Knights.

Melton could also play safety and will likely be an impact player on special teams for the Cardinals.

“I just want to help my team in whatever for or fashion I can,” Melton told azcardinals.com. “I’m a lockdown corner. I ran a 4.39. I can jump out of the gym. I’m a real athlete so you know I play inside, outside. … I can’t wait to help my team win.”

Melton follows his brother, Bo, who was the first player from Cedar Creek to reach the NFL. Bo Melton was a seventh-round pick by the Green Bay Packers in 2022.

More: What South Jersey graduates are playing FBS football this fall? Get to know them here

Still, a 6-foot, 190-pound cornerback, had five interceptions and was a second-team All-Big Ten selection for Maryland. In 39 career games with the Terrapins, Still posted 165 total tackles with six interceptions.

Still told Chargers.com that his biggest strength was “my ability to take away the ball. Then, my quick instincts, being able to read what’s going on and react to what is in front of me.”

Still, a 2020 graduate of Timber Creek, had 124 career receptions for 2,533 and 17 touchdowns with the Chargers. He had 1,336 receiving yards as a senior.

Leary, a 2018 Timber Creek grad, was one of the top quarterbacks ever to play in the Garden State.

He set state records for career passing yards (9,672) and career touchdowns (105) along with single-season marks with 3,688 and 48 touchdowns, both coming in his junior season.

Leary, who was the Courier-Post Offensive Player of the Year in 2017 and 2018, before playing four seasons at North Carolina State and one at Kentucky last season.

Leary produced an incredible 2021 season with the Wolfpack when he threw for 3,433 yards with 35 touchdowns and five interceptions. A shoulder season limited him to six games the next season before he transferred to Kentucky.

With the Wildcats, Leary threw for 2,746 yards with 25 TDs and 12 interceptions, which ranked second among all SEC quarterbacks, only behind LSU’s Jayden Daniels, who was the second overall pick in the NFL Draft.

Leary adds depth the Ravens’ depth chart at QB, behind Lamar Jackson and John Johnson.

He told baltimoreravens.com after playing under coordinator’s Liam Cohen in a pro-style offense at Kentucky, “It was an awesome opportunity to learn from Coach Cohen, to play in a whole different system of what I wasn’t used to in the past, getting under center, calling plays in the huddle. … From a developmental standpoint, it was the best thing I could have done to put my best foot forward in the NFL and bring what I can to the table for the Ravens."

Damiere Byrd was the first player from Timber Creek to play in the NFL. He's played wide receiver for eight years in the league, starting his career with the Carolina Panthers in 2016.

Tom McGurk is a regional sports reporter for the Courier-Post, The Daily Journal and Burlington County Times, covering South Jersey sports for over 30 years. If you have a sports story that needs to be told, contact him at (856) 486-2420 or email tmcgurk@gannett.com. Follow him on Twitter at @McGurkSports. Help support local journalism with a digital subscription.

This article originally appeared on Cherry Hill Courier-Post: Max Melton, Tarheeb Still and Devin Leary were selected in NFL Draft