When the New York Jets drafted Sam Darnold with the third pick in the 2018 NFL Draft, social media went off with reactions and throwbacks.
Sam Darnold is now a New York Jet.
The USC quarterback was selected with the No. 3 pick in the 2018 NFL Draft on Thursday night, sending Twitter into a flurry as reactions came swirling in.
One Trojan legend put to words what many USC fans were thinking when they saw the Cleveland Browns pass on Darnold in order to take Baker Mayfield No. 1 overall.
Wow! The @Browns missed again! How in the world do you not take #SamDarnold
— Rodney Peete (@RodneyPeete9) April 27, 2018
But the Trojans quarterback didn’t have to wait long to hear his name called. After the Giants snatched up Penn State’s Saquon Barkley, the Jets used their pick to draft Darnold at No. 3 overall.
Welcome to the Big ?, Sam Darnold!
— New York Jets (@nyjets) April 27, 2018
? NFLN/FOX/ESPN pic.twitter.com/z5Yw9VfgTB
Congratulations to USC QB Sam Darnold on being selected No. 3 overall by the @nyjets!#USCtotheNFL | #NFLDraft pic.twitter.com/spuDHQIN6D
— USC Trojans (@USC_Athletics) April 27, 2018
Sam Darnold's extended family reacts to his #3 selection to Jets pic.twitter.com/B8N2gU7S8u
— Khamis Productions/Jonathan Khamis (@JonathanKhamis) April 27, 2018
That set off a wave of responses from Darnold’s past and present teammates, but no one was more excited to see Darnold in the Big Apple than defensive linemen like Leonard Williams, who has thrived for the Jets in the trenches since he was drafted No. 6 overall in 2015, and Claude Pelon, who is also a member of the Jets.
Sam Darnold!!!! Lets goooo!! Welcome to the fam!! Fight on
— Leonard Williams (@leonardwilliams) April 27, 2018
Let’s eat #FightOn pic.twitter.com/7wzGUIxbv8
— Claude B The Name (@ClaudePelon) April 27, 2018
Here’s what other Trojan teammates and former players had to say about Darnold’s selection:
My guy. pic.twitter.com/h28VYsQrii
— Niccs (@NicoFalah) April 27, 2018
Happy for my guy Sam!!
— JuJu Smith-Schuster (@TeamJuJu) April 27, 2018
Great player. Better Person. They got a good one . https://t.co/j8oapZI5lQ
— Justin Davis (@JD_22bsm) April 27, 2018
Congrats to Sammy D! Certified Baller
— Michael Hutchings (@CaliHutch_17) April 27, 2018
Congrats Sam see you week 1 on #MNF !!! #NFLDraft
— DK (@DevonKennard) April 27, 2018
SAMMMMMMMY D
— Jalen Mckenzie ? (@pcBjaypeez_) April 27, 2018
Let’s go @nyjets Congrats #SamDarnold
— Rodney Peete (@RodneyPeete9) April 27, 2018
Congratulations Sam Darnold much deserving of it #NFLDraft2018 #FIGHTON
— garçon (@iman_marshall8) April 27, 2018
#fighton Sammy
— LenDale White (@thereal_lendale) April 27, 2018
Lets go Sam!
— Antwaun Woods Sr. (@AntwaunWoods_) April 27, 2018
Sam to the Jets ✈️
— Ajene Harris ? (@ajeneharris) April 27, 2018
Players weren’t the only ones cheering on Darnold. USC’s coaches and staff also jumped on Twitter to lend their support.
So proud of this young man!! The perfect fit!! #Jets #NFLDraft18 pic.twitter.com/KX1fvKNEb5
— Tee Martin (@coachtee17) April 27, 2018
J E T S...JETS JETS JETS! Take care of him @leonardwilliams and @ClaudePelon !!! pic.twitter.com/HJ7LAojbpZ
— Alex Rios (@TheUSCMayor) April 27, 2018
Congratulations to Sam Darnold! Wonderful person, player, and representative of the Trojan family! Good luck on the next step! #JetUp #FightOn
— Clay Helton (@USCCoachHelton) April 27, 2018
Very proud of Sam for being selected #3 to the New York Jets! He has a great career ahead.
— Tyson Helton (@Coach_Helton) April 27, 2018
While there was plenty of time to congratulate Darnold, Twitter also did what Twitter does best. Many were quick to point out the slew of Jets fans who’d invested in the quarterback long before this year’s draft. Other media members drew other lines to coincidences and connections.
How long will it take a reporter to track down this guy? pic.twitter.com/sgzKwb1cJT
— Keely Eure (@keelyismyname) April 27, 2018
I believe the first 'Suck for Sam' article was written by a New York Jets columnist in the summer of 2017. Things come full circle
— Chris Treviño (@ChrisNTrevino) April 27, 2018
Darnold’s time in New York is just beginning, but he’ll hope to avoid going down the road which took Mark Sanchez from the No. 5 pick to the “butt fumble.”
Twitter will be along for the whole ride.