Bruins Score Two First-Rounders in NFL Draft

Quarterback Josh Rosen was selected by the Arizona Cardinals with the 10th pick in the first round of the 2018 NFL Draft held on Thursday night in Dallas. Offensive tackle Kolton Miller followed shortly thereafter as the 15^th pick in the first round by the Oakland Raiders. The last time UCLA had two players selected in the first round of the NFL draft was in 1981 (running back Freeman McNeil – No. 3 by NY Jets; safety Kenny Easley – No. 4 by Seattle Seahawks).

UCLA has now had a player chosen in the first round in five of the last six drafts, including one in the first round of three straight drafts for the first time since 1994-95-96. It marks the highest selection for a Bruin quarterback since Cade McNown went to Chicago with the 12^th pick of the first round of the 1999 draft. Miller is the first Bruin offensive lineman selected in the first round since Jonathan Ogden was taken fourth overall in the 1996 draft by Baltimore.

Rosen made 30 career starts as a Bruin. Last season, as a junior, he was named second-team All-Pac-12 by the coaches after ranking second in the nation in passing yards per game in 2017 (341.5 yards per game) and eighth in total offense (332.6 yards per game). Rosen was the Pac-12 leader in each of those categories. He set UCLA season school marks for highest passing yards average per game (341.5), most games passing for 300 yards or more (7) and most consecutive games passing for at least 300 yards (5). He finished his Bruin career with numerous school records, including most career games passing for 300 yards or more (17).

Miller started 23 games in his Bruin career and was a second-team All-Pac-12 honoree last season in a vote by the league coaches. A Bruin offensive lineman has now been selected in each of the past three drafts (2016 – Caleb Benenoch and 2017 Conor McDermott) and in five of the last six (2017 – McDermott (rd. 6); 2016 – Benenoch (rd. 5); 2015 – none; 2014 – Xavier Su'a-Filo (rd. 2); 2013 – Jeff Baca (rd. 6).

The last time UCLA had a player chosen in the first round in five out of six drafts was in 1994 (LB Jamir Miller-Cardinals), 1995 (WR J.J. Stokes-49ers), 1996 (OT Jonathan Ogden-Ravens), 1998 (DB Shaun Williams-Giants) and 1999 (QB Cade McNown-Bears).The last time UCLA had a player selected in the first-round of three consecutive drafts was in 1994 (Miller), 1995 (Stokes) and 1996 (Ogden).

The NFL Draft will continue on Friday, with the second and third rounds, and on Saturday, with selections in rounds four through seven. ESPN, ESPN 2, ESPN3, and the NFL Network are providing live coverage of the draft which begins at 4 p.m. PT on Friday and at 9 a.m. PT on Saturday (also coverage on ABC on Saturday).

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Bruins Score Two First-Rounders in NFL Draft

Players Mentioned

Conor McDermott

Kolton Miller

Josh Rosen

University of California, Los Angeles, Athletics

Bruins Score Two First-Rounders in NFL Draft

Players Mentioned

Conor McDermott

Kolton Miller

Josh Rosen

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