When defensive tackle Trevor Laws reports to his first mini-camp as a Philadelphia Eagle next weekend, he will see at least one familiar face - his former college roommate at Notre Dame, defensive end Victor Abiamiri.

It's good that Laws will have some level of comfort the first time he walks into the locker room at the NovaCare Complex, because he's the latest addition to Philadelphia's up-and-coming young defensive line and he will be counted on to contribute from day one.

"Trevor is a high-energy player. He had the most tackles for a loss in the country this past year," head coach Andy Reid said. "He gives us a nice guy we can work in with the two first-round picks we have starting for us. I think he upgrades that defensive line as he had a tremendous year this year and last year."

DT Trevor Laws

The Eagles made Laws their first pick in the 2008 NFL Draft when the selected him with the 16th pick in the second round. Philadelphia traded out of the first round entirely when it the dealt its pick to Carolina early in the day, and actually dropped back a few spots in the second round when it sent one of the picks the received in the trade to Minnesota.

But well more than four hours after the trimmed-down 2008 draft had begun, the Eagles finally made their first pick, and Laws was honored that the name on the card was his.

"It's nerve-wracking, but the moment your name is called, it's just amazing. It's the moment you've been waiting for, for so long. I'm just beaming right now," Laws said from his parents house in Minnesota. "Going through the draft process, not knowing what's going to happen, you can go anywhere. It's amazing that I'm going to be up there in Philly. It's awesome."

Head coach Andy Reid and defensive coordinator Jim Johnson have always stressed the importance of having a strong rotation along the defensive line, and for the third time in the last four years, Philadelphia selected a defensive tackle with their first pick.

Both of the first two picks, Mike Patterson (No. 31 overall in 2005) and Brodrick Bunkley (No. 14 overall in 2006), have developed into rock-solid players in the trenches, and Reid said that he actually sees a lot of Patterson in Laws.

"He's very similar. Just like Mike, he was a tremendous wrestler in high school and he's got that great balance and core strength and quickness," Reid said. "He'll be a nice addition in there with the pair that we have in Bunk and Patterson."

Laws is a powerful player whose gritty style will likely endear him to Philadelphia fans very quickly - he's a battler who never gives up on a play. He also understands that he is coming into an organization that already has two established players at his position.

"I looked at their roster a little bit, but I see there is a position for me to contribute," Laws said. "There is an opportunity for me to get in there and compete with some guys. I think it's a pretty good place for me."

His pre-existing friendship with Abiamiri can't hurt either, and in some situations, the former roommates could end up playing side-by-side once again.

"We're real close friends. We were roommates for over a year," Laws said. "I talk to him on a weekly basis almost. It's really exciting to go to the same team as him."