Cleveland Browns first-round draft pick Cameron Erving of Moultrie, left, and Browns head coach Mike Pettine, right, pose at a news conference in Berea, Ohio, Friday.

MOULTRIE – Cameron Erving called his first-round selection by the Cleveland Browns in the National Football League Draft on Thursday “surreal.”

“I always dreamed about being drafted, but, I can’t even explain it,” the former Colquitt County and Florida State lineman said on Saturday while on his way back to Tallahassee from Cleveland. “It still seems surreal. I’m just happy to be a Cleveland Brown.”

Erving was joined by his mother and father, two sisters, his grandfather, brother-in-law and several friends at the Auditorium Theatre of Roosevelt University in Chicago for the first round of the draft.

Back in Moultrie, many Colquitt County football fans were watching ESPN when, at about 10:15 p.m., NFL Commissioner Roger Goodell announced that the Browns had selected Erving with the 19^th overall pick, making him the first former Packer to be a first-round NFL draft pick.

Colquitt County coach Rush Propst had a NFL draft get-together at his home on Thursday attended by Packer coaches and current and former players and said, “When his name was called, this place exploded.”

And he said he hopes Colquitt County understands the significance of what Erving has done.

“The community needs to be proud of the accomplishments of Cameron Erving,” Propst said. “There are only 32 (first-round picks) each year. In 2008, football was not necessarily his thing. It was not something he was sold-out on. He told me then that he wanted to be a basketball player.

“But by the time he was senior, he could see he had a chance to do something.”

And after helping lead the Packers to an 11-3 record and a trip to the state semifinals in 2009, Erving, a defensive tackle, proved what he could do.

He earned a scholarship to Florida State, and after being red-shirted in 2010, he played in 13 games in 2011 as defensive tackle.

The next spring, he moved to offense, where he started 42 straight games, including 37 at left tackle and the last five at center.

Along the way, he earned a national championship ring, was named a second-team All-American and twice received the Jacobs Blocking Trophy as the Atlantic Coast Conference’s best offensive lineman.

Erving said he credits his family; Propst and his family; his other Colquitt County coaches, including basketball coach Kirven Davis; and Florida coaches Jimbo Fisher, Rick Trickett and Odell Haggins with helping him achieve his goals.

His excellent work on the field, in the weight room, in the film room and in the class room has resulted in the chance to play in the NFL.

“And Cam’s always been very humble,” Propst said. “He’s handled himself with class.

“He gives a lot of kids in this community some hope, an idol to look up to. I am really proud and happy for Cam and for our town.”

In his 26 years as a head coach, Propst has had seven of his former players play in the NFL, five of whom were drafted. But Erving is his first first-round draft choice.

And Erving has chance to become just the fourth former Packer to play in the NFL.

Virgil Seay, a 10^th-round draft of the Denver Broncos out of Troy State, played with Washington Redskins and Atlanta Falcons; Nate Lewis, a seventh-round pick by San Diego, played for the Chargers and Chicago Bears; and Antonio Edwards, a seventh-round pick of Seattle out of Valdosta State, played for the Seahawks, New York Giants and Atlanta Falcons.

Erving said he was issued jersey No. 74 by the Browns, a number he first wore at Florida State, before switching to No. 75 he wore the last three seasons.

“No. 75 wasn’t available or I’d’ve taken that,” he said.

It was while wearing that No. 75 jersey while playing both tackle and center at Florida State that Erving impressed the NFL with his versatility.

In fact, after Cleveland selected Erving on Thursday, Browns coach Mike Pettine characterized one of his newest players as a “Jack of all trades, master of several.”

“That’s the beauty of kind of what his skill set is,” Pettine told ClevelandBrowns.com. “Here’s a guy that can play multiple positions. We’ll have to get that sorted out.”

The Browns, who were 7-9 last season, will return a starter at left tackle in eight-time Pro Bowler Joe Thomas. Left guard Joel Bitonio had an impressive rookie season last year.

Alex Mack, who missed much of last season with an injury, is expected back at center.

But Erving won’t be limited by position.

Browns general manager Ray Farmer also likes Erving’s ability to line up at different positions.

“From my perspective, I think our competitive advantage right now for the offense is the offensive line, Farmer told ClevelandBrowns.com. “To bolster that group, we took the guy that we thought had the most additional versatility and the skillset for who we wanted to be.

“Regardless of where he gets inserted, it is a positive for us.”

And Erving has no illusions about the immediate future.

“All the excitement of the draft is over,” he said. “What I expect now is a lot of work. I’m just going to go back to work and try to get better every day.”