Sam, Gaines drafted to St. Louis Rams

The St. Louis Rams made history tonight with drafting openly gay, former Mizzou Tiger Michael Sam with the 249th overall pick.

Sam is now the first openly gay player to be drafted the National Football League.

As the 2014 SEC Co-Defensive player of the year and unanimous all american, Sam had 10.5 sacks in the regular season and scored the game winning touchdown in the 2014 Cotton Bowl.

Drafted at No. 188 by the St. Louis Rams was former Mizzou corner back EJ Gaines.

Gaines is the second Mizzou player drafted by the Rams since the move to St. Louis and the Mizzou first corner back drafted since 1984.

As a first team All SEC player, gaines finished with 75 tackles, third highest on the team and a team high of five interceptions.

“We’re so happy for all of our guys,” said MU Head Coach Gary Pinkel. “They’re all very deserving, and we’re confident they’re all going to make Mizzou proud. Coach (Don) James told me when I first became a head coach that I’d start winning games when I started getting guys into the NFL, and he was right about that just like he was with most everything.

And it’s not just the guys who are drafted, we’ve got a lot of other very talented guys who didn’t get picked this weekend who will make NFL rosters. We’re proud to see all of them continue to pursue their professional dreams,” Pinkel said.

Now, the St. Louis Rams have former Mizzou Tigers T.J. Moe, EJ Gaines and Michael Sam.