Two Aztecs Are Surprised to Go in High Rounds : NFL draft: Sagapolutele picked in fourth round, Subis in sixth. SDSU receivers Arey and Raye are bypassed.

It was a little more low-key than Dan McGwire’s draft day Sunday, but Nick Subis will take it anyway.

Subis found out Monday morning while walking out of a statistics class at San Diego State that he had been drafted by the Denver Broncos in the sixth round. He was the 142nd pick overall.

“I was walking to my car when a friend said, ‘Congratulations, you made it. Denver picked you,’ ” Subis said. “I thought he was BSing me at first.”

Subis, a 6-foot-4, 278-pound offensive lineman, was the third and final Aztec picked. McGwire, a quarterback, was chosen in the first round on Sunday by Seattle, and Pio Sagapolutele, a defensive end, was picked in the fourth round by Cleveland.

Two Aztec receivers who hoped to go in the later rounds, Dennis Arey and Jimmy Raye, were both bypassed Monday.

Subis thought there was a good chance he would be picked when the NFL draft resumed Monday with Rounds 6 through 12, but he didn’t exactly stay glued to the radio or television. He was in the SDSU weight room by 7 a.m. and then off to class. He was surprised he went as early as the sixth round.

“I was happy about it,” he said. “I expected to go in the eighth round or beyond.”

And he is happy with Denver. The Broncos play in the AFC West, which means that if he makes the team, he will return to Southern California at least twice a year--when Denver plays San Diego and the Raiders. Also, Subis would see McGwire twice when Denver plays Seattle.

Mainly, though, he said he likes the city.

“I love the area,” Subis said. “I look forward to playing for them. I like the altitude for training conditions.”

Subis has played center, guard and tackle at SDSU. The Broncos, who were impressed by Subis’ pass protection, probably will try him at tackle first.

Sagapolutele, 6-5, 305-pounds, was also surprised to be picked so highly. Unlike McGwire, Subis, Arey and Raye, he didn’t even attend the 1991 NFL scouting combine in Indianapolis.

“I was looking at the 12th round or the free-agent market,” Sagapolutele said. “Nobody knew who I was--I made a lot of people who projected me in the 12th round look like fools.”

Sagapolutele’s stock increased in the Hula Bowl, when he played well against Tennessee linemen Charles McRae and Antone Davis. McRae went seventh in the first round and Davis went eighth.

“I’m just as good as them, except they come from big-time programs,” Sagapolutele said.

“I’ve been a person to always prove people wrong. My next goal is to make it to the team. I know I will.”

Arey and Raye still haven’t lost hope. Both said they will contact teams and attempt to hook on as a free agent.

“I’m not disappointed,” said Arey, whose agent is contacting teams. “If I got drafted it would have been nice, but I was expecting this. I’m not totally crushed.”

Said Raye: “I’m fine. I’ve heard from some teams.”

Raye is receiving some help from his dad, Jimmy II, who is a receivers coach for the Los Angeles Rams. Raye said he has been contacted by Atlanta and Seattle and that his father has talked to Denver and Dallas. Also, he said, Arey has been contacted by Cincinnati.

If Raye is able to work something out with Seattle, it would reunite him with McGwire--whom the Aztecs affectionately called “Six-Eight” last year because of McGwire’s height.

“That would be cool,” Raye said. “I’d just tell him, ‘Throw me the ball, Six-Eight. Help me make the team.”