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PAGE 7B May 2024
FSU Produces 10 Picks In 2024 NFL Draft
The Florida State football program produced 10 picks in the 2024 NFL Draft. The Seminoles were the only team in the country to have multiple defensive linemen, multiple defensive backs and multiple wide receivers selected. Florida State had 10 picks in a single draft for the fourth time in program history, matching the mark from 1995 and trailing only the ACC-record 11 picks in the 2013 and 2015 NFL Drafts. The 10 draft picks tied for the third-highest among all programs nationally in 2024 and were four more than the second-place ACC team. FSU was one of six teams nationally with three top-40 selections, and its six top-100 picks tied for the third- highest total among all collegiate programs. The Seminoles extended their streak of having at least one former player taken to 41 straight years, the eighth-longest active streak in the country. Showcasing the balance of last year’s squad, Florida State had five offensive players and five defensive players selected. It was the fifth time in program history with five offensive players taken in the same year and first time since 2015. The last time Florida State had five defensive players off the board in the same year was 2013, and 2024 marked the ninth time with at least five FSU defenders taken. FSU had multiple defensive linemen drafted for the 14th time in program history. The Seminoles also had their 14th year with multiple defensive backs taken in the same draft and have produced 37 defensive back picks in the last 37 NFL Drafts. Florida State had multiple wide receivers selected in the same draft for the sixth time and first since 2003. Defensive end Jared Verse started the festivities, when he became Florida State’s 47th first-round pick in program history when he was selected 19th overall by the Los Angeles Rams. Wide receiver Keon Coleman was the next selection. The Buffalo Bills picked him 33rd overall. Defensive tackle Braden Fiske was picked by the Rams at No. 39 overall, defensive back Renardo Green went to the San Francisco 49ers at 64th overall, running back Trey Benson was selected 66th overall by the Arizona Cardinals and defensive back Jarrian Jones was taken by the Jacksonville Jaguars with pick number 96. Quarterback Jordan Travis was the New York Jets’ fifth-round selection at No. 171 overall. Wide receiver Johnny Wilson was picked by the Philadelphia Eagles at No. 185 overall, tight end Jaheim Bell was selected by the New England Patriots with the 231st overall pick and linebacker Tatum Bethune was picked by the 49ers with the 251st overall selection. Florida State now has 304 NFL Draft picks in its history, including 214 during its current streak of 41 straight drafts with at least one selection.
Photo By Brandon K. Pierce, The Sports Ledger
Florida State's Renardo Green breaks up pass during the Seminole's 2023 season opener against LSU last fall at Camping World Stadium in Orlando. Green was the 64th overall pick in the 2024 NFL Draft and was selected by the San Francisco 49ers. Crimson Tide Sends Ten Players to NFL The University of Alabama football program had 10 total former players selected in the 2024 NFL Draft, including Justin Eboigbe (No. 105, Los Angeles Chargers) in the fourth round, Jase McClellan (No. 186, Atlanta Falcons) and Will Reichard (No. 203, Minnesota Vikings) in the sixth round and Jaylen Key (No. 257, New York Jets) who heard his name called with the final pick of the draft.. Eboigbe (DL), McClellan (RB), Reichard (PK) and Key (S) joined offensive tackle JC Latham (No. 7, Titans), outside linebacker Dallas Turner (No. 17, Vikings), cornerback Terrion Arnold (No. 24, Lions), cornerback Kool-Aid McKinstry (No. 41, Saints) outside linebacker Chris Braswell (No. 57, Buccaneers) and wide receiver Jermaine Burton (No. 80, Bengals) as part of the Tide’s nine-man 2024 NFL Draft class. With its 10 selections across the three days, Alabama has now had at least seven draft picks for 13 straight years (2012-present). Since 2009, Alabama has produced 133 draft picks, the most by any college football program during that span Alabama’s 10 drafted players in 2023 tied for the second-most in school history (UA had 10 drafted players in 1945, 2017, 2019, 2021 and 2023) Alabama’s 2024 NFL Draft Recap Player Pick Team JC Latham 7 Tennessee Titans Dallas Turner 17 Minnesota Vikings Terrion Arnold 24 Detroit Lions Kool-Aid McKinstry 41 New Orleans Saints Chris Braswell 57 Tampa Bay Buccaneers Jermaine Burton 80 Cincinnati Bengals Justin Eboigbe 105 Los Angeles Chargers Jase McClellan 186 Atlanta Falcons Will Reichard 203 Minnesota Vikings Jaylen Key 257 New York Jets
Former Auburn standout quarterback Bo Nix runs the football against Penn State. Nix, a former Pinson Valley High School quarterback, most recently played for the Oregon Ducks. His efforts on the gridiron helped him become the 12th overall pick in the 2024 NFL Draft. He now has a chance to shine at the professional level with the Denver Broncos. Photo Courtesy of Auburn Athletics Bo Nix Drafted by Denver Three Tennessee football players were selected on the final day of the 2024 NFL Draft, pushing the Volunteers' three-year total under head coach Josh Heupel to 13. All-SEC running back Jaylen Wright was taken by the Miami Dolphins with the 120th overall pick in the fourth round, quarterback Joe Milton III went 193rd overall in the sixth round to the New England Patriots, and cornerback Kamal Hadden was selected with the 211th overall pick in the sixth round to the Super Bowl champion Kansas City Chiefs. One year after having the SEC's highest drafted offensive lineman in Darnell Wright, Tennessee produced the conference's highest drafted running back with another Wright. Jaylen Wright became the highest drafted Tennessee running back since five-time Pro Bowler Alvin Kamara went No. 67 overall in the third round to the New Orleans Saints in 2017. Wright led the SEC's No. 1 rushing offense last season, carrying it 137 times for 1,013 yards, including 592 yards after contact. His 7.39 average yards per carry led all FBS running backs with a minimum of 120 attempts. That figure also ranked second in UT single-season history. Wright racked up six 100-yard rushing games, a figure that ranked second in the SEC in 2023. He concluded his three-year career with 18 rushing touchdowns and finished 13th on the UT all-time rushing yardage chart with 2,297 yards on 368 carries. Milton III got the call from VFL New England head coach Jerod Mayo, who was selected 16 years ago by the Patriots. It's back-to-back years that the Vols had a quarterback taken as Hendon Hooker went in the third round to the Detroit Lions in 2023. In 2023, Milton III started all 12 regular season game and completed 229-of-354 (.647) passes for 2,813 yards with 20 touchdowns and five interceptions. He finished with 3,112 yards of total offense, representing the third straight season a Vol QB eclipsed the 3,000 mark and the eighth-best total in school history. Milton III was the MVP of the 2022 Orange Bowl, leading the Vols past Clemson with three touchdown passes. Hadden enjoyed the best season of his career last fall despite missing the final six games due to a shoulder injury. His defensive coverage grade of 90.4 was second-best among SEC cornerbacks and fifth in the nation according to Pro Football Focus. Hadden, who did not give up a touchdown throw last season, recorded 19 tackles, a team-best three interceptions and eight pass breakups, which ranked sixth in the SEC. Tennessee has produced multiple offensive picks in now three straight drafts with eight total offensive players under head coach Josh Heupel. A total of 13 players in the Josh Heupel era have been drafted (since 2022 NFL Draft). It's the highest three-year span of draft picks for the Vols since 14 went from 2006-08. With the three total draft selections, Tennessee has had 387 all-time draft picks, which dates back to 1936. That mark includes the AFL Draft, which merged in 1967. With Hendon Hooker (2023) and Joe Milton III (2024), Tennessee is one of just three programs in the last five years with a quarterback selected in back-to-back drafts, joining Kentucky (2023-24) and Alabama (2020-21). It's the first time since 1994-95 that the Vols have achieved the feat. Heath Shuler (round 1, pick 3) was selected in 1994, and Jerry Colquitt (round 6, pick 191) was chosen in 1995. Tennessee has now had 15 quarterbacks drafted in the common draft era (since 1967). That total is tied for first in the SEC.
Three Tennessee Players Taken In NFL Draft
University of Tennessee Head Football Josh Heupel speaks with the media during the 2023 SEC Media Day. A total of 13 players at Tennessee under his leadership have been selected in the NFL draft. Dating back to 2010, five Josh Heupel coached quarterbacks have also been drafted. They include Joe Milton III (2024), Hendon Hooker (2023), Drew Lock (2019), Landry Jones (2013) and Sam Bradford (2010). Photo Courtesy of Tennessee Athletics
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