Longtime friendship hits football's biggest stage

ATLANTA (FOX 5 Atlanta) - They grew up playing youth football together in South Fulton, but recently their paths crossed on a huge stage at the NFL draft.

Former University of Gerogia linebacker D'andre Walker was picked in the fifth round of the draft, but the announcement was made a lot more special thanks to who made it.

The identity of the Titans' fifth-round selection was revealed on the Nashville stage by Tennessee State linebacker Christion Abercrombie, who grew up playing rec-league football with Walker in College Park, Georgia. Abercrombie underwent emergency surgery last fall after suffering a serious head injury in a game with Vanderbilt.

"It was a blessing that he got to announce my name," Walker said.

The two men sat down with Good Day Atlanta to share exactly what that moment was like on the NFL Draft stage.

The Associated Press contributed to this story.