SLIPPERY ROCK — Instead of being selected, Slippery Rock University wide receiver Devin Goda did the selecting.

Bypassed in the NFL Draft, Goda agreed to join the Baltimore Ravens as a free agent Saturday night.

“It was a little tough at first,” Goda said of being overlooked in the draft. “I get kept getting calls from the teams during the last couple of rounds.

“The Dallas coach said he thought I’d be taken in the sixth round, but if I wasn’t, they were going to grab me late. When that didn’t happen ... it was disappointing.”

Immediately after the draft, Goda received free-agent offers from Dallas, Baltimore, Seattle and Kansas City. His agent, Joe Linta of Connecticut, also serves as the agent for Ravens quarterback Joe Flacco.

SRU coach George Mihalik said not being drafted worked out better for Goda.

“If you’re going to be a seventh-round pick, you’re slotted to one team,” he said. “Devin wound up with choices. He chose his best opportunity and now it’s up to him.”

“I talked to my agent and we figured Baltimore was the best shot for me in terms of the depth chart,” Goda said. “(Ravens) Coach (John) Harbaugh called me a couple of times.

“He said I was a diamond in the rough and was confident I have what it takes to help their team.”

The Ravens had two 50-catch receivers last year in Anquan Boldin (57 catches for 887 yards and three TDs) and rookie Torrey Smith (50-841-7). Two-year veteran David Reed is the only other receiver on the roster with ample NFL experience.

Baltimore drafted Miami (Fla.) receiver Tommy Streeter in the sixth round. Three of the team’s seven draft choices came from smaller schools — cornerback Asa Jackson of Cal Poly, safety Christian Thompson of South Carolina State and guard Gino Gradkowski of Delaware.

Goda said he believes he can make the roster as Baltimore’s third or fourth receiver.

“Obviously, it won’t be easy, but I can play the slot or line up outside,” Goda said. “That versatility should help me.”

The 6-foot-3, 225-pound Goda had 75 catches for 1,028 yards and 11 touchdowns for SRU last fall. He is one of three 1,000-yard receivers in Rock history and trails only Arena football great Greg Hopkins in career catches and receiving yards at SRU.

“The draft is not an exact science,” Mihalik said. “All any player can ask for is a shot in someone’s training camp and Devin has that now. It doesn’t matter where a player went to school anymore.

“I guarantee no one is going to outwork him. He’s been dreaming about this all his life.”

Goda will report to the Ravens for a rookie orientation in a few days. The team’s mini-camp begins May 11.

“I like my chances,” Goda said. “This is a good fit for me.”

Goda becomes the fourth SRU player in 10 years to reach an NFL training camp. Receiver D.J. Flick was in the Steelers camp in 2002, offensive lineman Mike Butterworth was on the Atlanta Falcons’ practice squad in 2008 and center Brandon Fusco was drafted by the Minnesota Vikings in the sixth round last year.