Eagles select WR Shelton Gibson with 5th-round pick

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The Eagles added speed on the outside Saturday by drafting West Virginia receiver Shelton Gibson (see bio) in the fifth round (166 overall) of the NFL draft.

Gibson’s 40-yard dash time at the NFL combine in early March officially clocked in at 4.50. A solid time, but a little high for someone with the reputation as a deep threat.

However, Gibson noted that his speed is different when the pads come on.

“I fly,” Gibson said on a conference call with Philly reporters Saturday. “And I think I’m on the right team to fly, honestly. They are the Eagles, so they fly.”

The newest member of the receiving corps for the Eagles hopes to energize a vertical passing attack, which struggled last season for rookie quarterback Carson Wentz. Gibson’s ability to make plays down the field — he averaged 22.1 yards per catch, fourth-most in the FBS last season — is just one of the reasons that make him an attractive pickup. Gibson totaled 80 catches, 1,838 yards and 17 touchdowns in his final two collegiate seasons.

Gibson also voiced his excitement to play with Wentz and expressed his confidence in the Eagles' quarterback dating back to last year.

“I promise you, I’m not lying, I keep everything real,” Gibson said. “I told [everybody] that Carson Wentz was the best quarterback in the draft last year. And I told everybody that before he even was thinking about getting picked. When I saw Philadelphia was calling my phone, I knew I had an awesome quarterback right from the rip. He is a hard worker.”

Because of his speed and style of play, Gibson compared himself to other speedsters, such as Percy Harvin, Tavon Austin and former Eagles star DeSean Jackson.

“I had (jersey number) No. 1 in high school. They had No. 1 in college, all three of those guys,” Gibson said. “When I came to school, DeSean Jackson was still one of my favorite receivers, to watch.”

Another positive trait Gibson cited of himself was his competitiveness and passion.

“I played with a lot of effort and a lot of passion,” he said. “Of course, my speed is the first thing [that people see] on the field, but that can’t be the only thing that I have. I have to have way more than that. That’s why I play with a lot of passion.”

Gibson will also be reunited with two of his former college teammates, cornerback Rasul Douglas, who the Eagles picked in the third round Friday night, and running back Wendell Smallwood, a fellow fifth-round pick from the Eagles last year.

“Every day, it was like, [Douglas would] get me, I’ll get him. We were pushing each other,” Gibson said. “At the end [of each practice], we’ll tell each other what we was doing wrong and how we can make it better throughout the week, so when we get to the games on Saturdays, it became easy to go up against a corner, or it became easy to go up against a receiver.”

Gibson said that he has been in touch with Smallwood, who he called a “great guy.”

“He told me that it was all about being ready to compete at a high level," Gibson said. “[He told me] you’re not going up against Kansas and Iowa State, that’s the reason why I always play with a chip on my shoulder. I always ask to play against the best corner.”

The 22-year-old wideout went later than expected, as he was viewed by many to be a third or fourth round pick. However, Gibson stayed positive and he let the process work itself out.

“All I needed was one team to love me," Gibson said, "and I don’t know if Philly loves me, but I’m pretty sure they will later on.”

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