Doug Costin, Dan Chisena sign NFL free agent deals after going undrafted

This year’s NFL Draft was devoid of Chester County products. But that doesn’t mean there won’t be any former Ches-Mont players trying to make NFL rosters when training camps eventually begin this summer or fall.

Former Bishop Shanahan defensive tackle Doug Costin signed a free agent contract Sunday with the Jacksonville Jaguars after a stellar career at Miami University (Ohio).

Downingtown East graduate Dan Chisena, a speedy receiver and special teams star at Penn State, will head north as he tries to make the roster with the Minnesota Vikings.

Costin was a three year starter in college and was named first-team all-Mid American Conference in 2019. Costin recorded 58 tackles and four sacks in 2019 and for his career he played 50 games and registered 178 tackles and 17 sacks.

“This is the fulfillment of a lifelong dream,” Costin said by phone Sunday. “I have been working toward this for a real long time and I am really excited to be going to Jacksonville. I was FaceTiming with their coaches and it seems like a great place to play football. I am going to go down there and work as hard as I can and see what happens. The coaches made me feel very comfortable when I spoke to them. I am excited.”

Costin’s high school head coach at Bishop Shanahan, Paul Meyers, talked about Costin, who would be the first former Eagle to play in the NFL if he makes a roster this fall.

“Doug is a great kid who works hard, is humble and is a student of the game,” Meyers said. “His athleticism will help him make the team. He can play defensive tackle as well as special teams. I am so happy for him.”

Costin, a 2014 graduate of Bishop Shanahan, said his time as an Eagle helped him on and off the field.

“Coming out of middle school I was a little childish,” Costin said. “I feel Bishop Shanahan really prepared me for college both on and off the field. I really feel it was important to be ready for life after football because football will be over some time, and Bishop Shanahan really helped me on and off the field.”

For Chisena, the chance to join the Vikings could be a great path to the NFL. One of the Vikings’ top receivers the last few years, Stefon Diggs, is now a Buffalo Bill.

Downingtown East coach Mike Matta talked about the former Cougar.

“Dan Chisena is just an awesome kid,” Matta said. “He, along with Caleb Fell, were our captains in 2014 and they were some of the better captains we have had. We were coming off a bad 2013 season and we did not know what direction the program was going and their leadership got us going in 2014.

Chisena will have some speedy company in Vikings camp. Minnesota used its first round pick on LSU receiver Justin Jefferson, and took Miami (Fla.) receiver K.J. Osborn in the fifth round.

“He has elite speed and his senior year in high school he won three gold medals in state track,” Matta said of Chisena. “He, like the other players we have put in the NFL, does things the right way and he does them all the time. He is a great teammate like the other guys who have made it to the professional ranks and he comes from a great family. He did some wonderful things for us and Penn State.”