Story by the Associated Press; curated by Oliver Darcy.

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NEW YORK (AP) — Michael Sam has been picked by the St. Louis Rams in the seventh round of the NFL draft, becoming the first openly gay player drafted by a pro football team.

Missouri defensive end Michael Sam speaks during a news conference at the NFL football scouting combine in Indianapolis, Saturday, Feb. 22, 2014. Sam came out to the entire country Feb. 9, and could become the first openly gay player in the NFL. (AP Photo/Nam Y. Huh)

Sam played at Missouri, and came out as gay in media interviews earlier this year. His team and coaches knew his secret and kept it for his final college season.

2014 #NFLDraft Round 7, Pick 34 (#249) @STLouisRams select MICHAEL SAM (DE, Missouri, compensatory pick) #NFL #Rams

— NFL DRAFT (@NFL_DRAFT) May 10, 2014

He went on to have the best year of his career: He was the Southeastern Conference defensive player of the year.

The 6-foot-2, 255-pound Sam was considered a mid-to-late round pick, far from a sure thing to be drafted. He played defensive end in college, but he's short for that position in the NFL and slower than most outside linebackers, the position he'll need to transition to at the professional level.

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