Two Cougars Head To NFL

SANTA CLARITA, Calif. – Former Cougar safety Troy Nolan was drafted in the seventh round of the 2009 National Football League Draft on Sunday afternoon by the Houston Texans, while former Cougar wide receiver Shane Morales signed a rookie free agent contract with the Arizona Cardinals. 
 
Nolan was the Texans' eighth and final pick of the draft with the 223rd overall selection. The El Camino graduate was a member of the 2004 National Championship football team at COC and the 2005 Western State Conference squad. He tallied 55 tackles, 44 solo, and four interceptions in 2005, earning first-team all-conference honors. 
 
Following his graduation from COC, the two-time Second-Team All-Pac-10 honoree transferred to Arizona State where he started all 25 games for the Sun Devils. He recorded five defensive touchdowns during his two years and led the team with six interceptions in 2007. 
 
Morales was signed by the 2009 Super Bowl participants and NFC Champion Arizona Cardinals as a rookie free agent. The Oregon State wide receiver was the second-leading receiver on the team last season with 54 catches for 743 yards and a team-high eight receiving touchdowns. Morales only spent one season with the Cougars after catching 36 passes for 598 yards and two touchdowns in 2005. 
 
Nolan and Morales are the third and fourth former Cougars from the 2005 Western State Conference Champions to join a NFL team. Last year, the Washington Redskins drafted Justin Tryon in the fourth round, and Joey LaRocque was a seventh-round pick by the Chicago Bears. 
 
College of the Canyons currently has six former players that are on active rosters in the NFL – Justin Tryon (Washington Redskins, COC 2004-2005), Joey LaRocque (Chicago Bears, COC 2004-2005), Domata Peko (Cincinnati Bengals, COC 2002-2003), JJ Arrington (Denver Broncos, COC 2001-2002), Jonathan Fanene (Cincinnati Bengals, COC 2000-2001), and Isaac Sopoaga (San Francisco 49ers, COC 2000-2001).