Jaguars draft pick Erick Hallett sent team's phone calls to voicemail

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Erick Hallett’s dream of making the NFL was realized on Sunday when the Jacksonville Jaguars selected the former Pittsburgh defensive back in the sixth round, No. 208 overall.

However, it was almost all for naught.

Jaguars coach Doug Pederson and general manager Trent Baalke revealed Saturday that their phone calls to Hallett were going straight to voicemail. Baalke said, however, once they reached Hallett, "he was fired up."

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Wide receiver Titus Mokiao-Atimalala, #2 of the UCLA Bruins, catches a pass against defensive back Erick Hallett, #31 of the Pittsburgh Panthers, during the first half of the Tony the Tiger Sun Bowl game at Sun Bowl Stadium on Dec. 30, 2022 in El Paso, Texas. (Sam Wasson/Getty Images)

"Everybody reacts differently. Some guys are just emotional," Pederson added. "They're overwhelmed. They hear their name called on the big screen. And at the same time they're excited to know where they're going to be and go to work.

"All of them, as Trent alluded to, all these guys are high-character guys. They're going to be great fits on our roster right now. And they're just excited to get in and go to work."

Hallett told the Pittsburgh Post-Gazette that his mom, Nia, eventually got him to answer the phone.

"She answered the call, looked at me and asked, ‘Why aren’t you answering your phone?’" Hallett told the paper on Monday. "I had no idea it was ringing."

Pittsburgh defensive back Erick Hallett, #31, reacts after a tackle during the NCAA football game between the Pittsburgh Panthers and Georgia Tech Yellow Jackets on Oct. 2, 2021 at Bobby Dodd Stadium in Atlanta. (Rich