Wendell Smallwood grew up an Eagles fan 30 minutes away from the stadium, in Wilmington, idolizing Duce Staley. But on the day Smallwood, a running back from West Virginia, was drafted by his favorite team to be coached by his favorite player, the Eagles also needed to answer for concerns about Smallwood's character.
Before Howie Roseman gushed about the Big 12's reigning rushing leader, he first explained that the Eagles "feel this is a good kid" whom they are "very comfortable bringing in here."
In 2014, Smallwood was charged with witness intimidation related to a 2012 murder case.