Conor McDermott (l) and Jayon Brown drafted on Day Three.
Pair of Bruins Selected on Day Three of NFL Draft
April 29, 2017 | Football
UCLA had two players, linebacker Jayon Brown and offensive lineman Conor McDermott, selected on the third day of the NFL Draft to give the Bruins a total of five players drafted this year and a total of 21 taken in the past four drafts --- 2014 (5), 2015 (3), 2016 (8), 2017 (5). It is the most productive four-year period for the program since the 1989 (7), 1990 (5), 1991 (5) and 1992 (6) drafts, which featured such names as QB Troy Aikman, LB Carnell Lake, DB Eric Turner, LB Roman Phifer and QB Tommy Maddox and sent a total of 23 Bruins on to the NFL.
Brown, last year's leading tackler, was the first Bruin selected on Day Three as he came off the board in the fifth round to the Tennessee Titans with the No. 155 overall pick. Brown was the fourth defensive player chosen in this year's draft and the 12th Bruin defender to be taken in the past four drafts. Next up was offensive lineman Conor McDermott who was selected with the No. 211 overall pick in the sixth round by the World Champion New England Patriots. The Bruins have now had at least one offensive and defensive lineman selected in four of the past five drafts – 2013-Datone Jones, DL and Jeff Baca, OL / 2014-Cassius Marsh, DL and Xavier Su'a-Filo, OL/ 2016-Kenny Clark, DL and Caleb Benenoch, OL.
Brown was named to the first-team All-Pac-12 squad as a senior while ranking ninth in the nation in total tackles per game (9.9 avg.) and leading the conference in both total tackles per game and solo tackles (5.8) per contest. He also tied for tenth in the league with three interceptions in 2016. Brown was a starter in 21 games over his junior and senior seasons and registered nine double-digit tackle games. As a junior, the Long Beach Poly HS product rated sixth in the Pac-12 in total tackles per game (7.8), while leading the team with 93 tackles. Brown recorded a conference-season high 18 tackles in the win over Colorado that season.
McDermott started 32 career games along the Bruin offensive front. Last season, he was named to the Watch Lists for the Outland Trophy and the Lombardi Award. As both a junior and senior, he was selected to the second-team All-Pac-12 squad by the league's coaches. In his junior season, the Bruin offensive line surrendered 14 quarterback sacks, the second-lowest total in school history. As both a sophomore and junior, the Nashville, Tenn. native blocked for 1,000-yard rusher Paul Perkins, now with the New York Giants, who led the Pac-12 in rushing in 2014 and finished his career as the No. 3 all-time rusher in school history. McDermott's brother, Kevin, is the long snapper for the Minnesota Vikings.
Brown, last year's leading tackler, was the first Bruin selected on Day Three as he came off the board in the fifth round to the Tennessee Titans with the No. 155 overall pick. Brown was the fourth defensive player chosen in this year's draft and the 12th Bruin defender to be taken in the past four drafts. Next up was offensive lineman Conor McDermott who was selected with the No. 211 overall pick in the sixth round by the World Champion New England Patriots. The Bruins have now had at least one offensive and defensive lineman selected in four of the past five drafts – 2013-Datone Jones, DL and Jeff Baca, OL / 2014-Cassius Marsh, DL and Xavier Su'a-Filo, OL/ 2016-Kenny Clark, DL and Caleb Benenoch, OL.
Brown was named to the first-team All-Pac-12 squad as a senior while ranking ninth in the nation in total tackles per game (9.9 avg.) and leading the conference in both total tackles per game and solo tackles (5.8) per contest. He also tied for tenth in the league with three interceptions in 2016. Brown was a starter in 21 games over his junior and senior seasons and registered nine double-digit tackle games. As a junior, the Long Beach Poly HS product rated sixth in the Pac-12 in total tackles per game (7.8), while leading the team with 93 tackles. Brown recorded a conference-season high 18 tackles in the win over Colorado that season.
McDermott started 32 career games along the Bruin offensive front. Last season, he was named to the Watch Lists for the Outland Trophy and the Lombardi Award. As both a junior and senior, he was selected to the second-team All-Pac-12 squad by the league's coaches. In his junior season, the Bruin offensive line surrendered 14 quarterback sacks, the second-lowest total in school history. As both a sophomore and junior, the Nashville, Tenn. native blocked for 1,000-yard rusher Paul Perkins, now with the New York Giants, who led the Pac-12 in rushing in 2014 and finished his career as the No. 3 all-time rusher in school history. McDermott's brother, Kevin, is the long snapper for the Minnesota Vikings.
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