Pat Coogan can’t wait.
After seven years, the former Marist lineman will be reunited with former Redhawks teammate Carnell Tate on the football field.
It will happen in the NFL of all places as both were selected by Tennessee in this year’s draft.
“Me and Carnell, we go way back,” Coogan told reporters in a video conference. “At Marist high school, we would drive to workouts together at 5:45 in the morning.
“It’s a great connection. The South Side — there’s nothing like it. There are connections everywhere and it’s funny that it travels to the NFL. I’m happy to be his teammate again.”
Tate, a wide receiver who played for Marist in 2019 before transferring to IMG in Florida during the pandemic, was drafted in the first round — fourth overall — on April 23 and Coogan was taken in the sixth round —194th overall — two days later.
A third former Marist star — linebacker Jimmy Rolder _ was taken in the fourth round — 118th overall) by Detroit. Also from the area, Nazareth’s Tanner Koziol, a tight end, was taken in the fifth round (164th) by Jacksonville.
Tate, an Ohio State star, is the headliner from the area. On draft night in Pittsburgh, he wore a white suit with an inscription on the inside honoring his mother, the late Ashley Griggs, and sister, A’Kayla Abbey.
Griggs was shot and killed in 2023 in Chicago in a drive-by shooting.
“Those two women mean the most to me,” Tate told reporters during a video conference on draft night. “My mom is watching over me each and every day and so is my sister, who is still with me. We love each other and talk to each other almost every day and we get through this life together.
“They mean the world to me.”
Tate left Marist in 2020 after his sophomore season was delayed by COVID, and he headed to IMG to complete his high-school career. In three seasons at Ohio State, he caught 121 passes for 1,872 yards and 14 touchdowns.
He said he had no idea he would be drafted as early as he was, but is readty to show off his skills at the next level.
“I’m best at catching the ball and my running ability and ability to get open,” he said. “I bring any and everything to the table. I do it all.”
Coogan played for Notre Dame from 2021 to 2024. He transferred to Indiana for his fifth season and won a national championship with the Hoosiers.
Rolder played for Michigan from 2022-2025 and also won a national championship. Interestingly, while at Marist he had a baseball scholarship from Illinois in his back pocket, but changed his mind when he had a conversation with Illini coach Bret Bielema.
There was heavy speculation he was going to play football at Illinois, but chose Michigan.
Koziol was a wide receiver at Nazareth and played on the Roadrunners’ Class 7A state finalist team in 2019. He transferred to Mt. Vernon, Indiana, because of the pandemic. He played at Ball State and Houston.