West Virginia University standouts Steve Slaton, Owen Schmitt and Ryan Mundy were selected Sunday in the 2008 National Football League draft.

Slaton, 5-9, 195-pound consensus All-America running back, went to the Houston Texans with their first pick in the third round. He was the 89th overall pick. The Levittstown. Pa., native forfeited his fourth year of eligibility to turn professional.

Schmitt, 6-3, 260-pound fullback/tight end, was claimed by the Seattle Seahawks in the fifth round. He was the 163rd player chosen.

Mundy, a 6-1, 205-pound free safety, was drafted by his hometown Pittsburgh Steelers in the sixth round. The 194th overall pick had just one year of football left when he came to WVU last fall after graduating from Michigan.

All three players were major contributors in 2007 as the Mountaineers won a share of the Big East championship, upset No. 3-ranked Oklahoma in the Fiesta Bowl, and finished 11-2 with No. 6 ranking in the final polls.

Mundy admittedly was very happy. He said, “I couldn’t have a better situation or opportunity to play in the NFL. The Steelers were down in Morgantown to see me work out on Pro Day at WVU.

“I’m grateful for the opportunity to play at West Virginia one year. I’m very pleased that I was able to contribute to the university’s success in 2007.”

Neither Slaton nor Schmitt had returned calls left for them by Sunday night.

Some other WVU hopefuls who weren’t drafted may get offers to sign free-agent contracts. Five graduating players did last year when the school had no one drafted.

These three are the first selected since Dee McCann was claimed by the Detroit Lions in the 2006 draft. They match the number drafted in 2005.

Slaton, a consensus All-America selection in 2006, rushed for 3,923 yards and a school-record 50 touchdowns for his three seasons at WVU. He also caught 65 passes for 805 yards, hiking his all-purpose yardage to 4,775.

His most productive season was 2006, when he rushed 245 times for a WVU record 1,733 yards. As a junior in 2007, he was second in rushing with 1,051 yards on 211 carries and scored 17 touchdowns.

Quarterback Patrick Wright, who is returning for senior season, netted 1,335 yards on 197 keeper plays last year.

Schmitt, who transferred to WVU after one year at a Division III school, played in 38 games as a Mountaineer. He rushed 160 times for a net 1,003 yards and 13 touchdowns. He also had 32 pass receptions for 288 yards and two scores.

He also excelled as a blocker. His fierce hitting resulted in several broken face-mask bars. He was named by the National Strength Coaches Association to its All-America team.

Schmitt had a career-long 57-yard touchdown run in his final college game, a 48-28 upset of Oklahoma in the 2008 Fiesta Bowl victory in Arizona. He also had runs of 52 and 54 yards in Gator and Sugar Bowl victories.

He’s from Fairfax, Va.

Mundy was the Mountaineers’ fourth leading tackler with 62 last season. He also intercepted three passes, recovered three fumbles and broke up seven passes. He went back to Michigan to work out in preparation for the draft.

See more at www.timeswv.com