After all the wreckage of the NFL Draft has been cleared, UCLA Football had 10 players taken by an NFL team. BOOM!
It was a huge three days for the UCLA Football team surrounding the 2016 NFL Draft as eight Bruins were selected and two were signed after going undrafted.
Ten players, Ladies and Gentlemen. Ten players from the 2015 UCLA Football team have been taken by NFL teams. I could say that all day.
This is by far the biggest NFL Draft for the Bruins in the Jim Mora era, and rightly so. Since Mora took over he has made the Bruin Revolution a real thing. From recruiting to coaching to development, Mora has improved the status of this team and that now includes getting players to the NFL.
Look what he has done so far.
In 2014, the Bruins had five players selected in the draft which was headlined by Anthony Barr, Xavier Su’a-Filo and Cassius Marsh. In 2013, the draft after Mora’s first year, four Bruins were taken. Last year, three Bruins had their name called.
Since Mora has been at UCLA, 20 players have been selected in the NFL Draft. What is it they say in Westwood? “BOOM!”
This was a fantastic draft for the Bruins and it all started with a a few Day 1 Headlines…
More from Go Joe Bruin
- UCLA Football: It’s time for the nation to meet Dante Moore
- UCLA Football: Where are they ranked heading into week 4
- UCLA Football: Position battle breakdown for Utah showdown
- UCLA vs. Utah: Location, time, prediction, and more
- UCLA Football: Highlights from Chip Kelly’s appearance on the Jim Rome Show
Next: NFL Draft Day 1
Day 1
DT Kenneth Clark, 27th (Round 1) Green Bay Packers
All the talk about Myles Jack was how he was for sure a Top 10 pick in the 2016 NFL Draft. Athleticism, raw talent, sheer awesomeness… Jack has the potential to turn into a dominant NFL linebacker. But then came the concerns about his knee.
Fantasy CPR
Is it worth the risk taking Jack knowing that he admitted before Day 1 of the draft that he might require microfracture surgery? Sort of. Yeah, so it seemed.
Every team in the first round passed on Jack. Despite looking dapper in his royal blue suit and bow tie, Jack could only sit their while Round 1 ended. But that was not all for the UCLA Football team on Day 1.
A team that didn’t pass on a Bruin was Green Bay. With the 36th pick in the 2016 NFL Draft the Packers selected Clark.
How fantastic is that? Not only does Clark get drafted in the first round, but he is joining former UCLA Football players Brett Hundley and Datone Jones.
It seems that the Packers, as well as the Minnesota Vikings, are slightly infatuated with the Bruins and honestly, they should be.
Moving on…
Next: NFL Draft Day 2
Day 2
LB Myles Jack, 36th (Round 2), Tampa Bay Buccaneers
So what happens now? Myles Jack slipped out of the first round and planned on not attending Day 2. Instead, he dunks a basketball to prove that his knee is fine, because why would you not?
More from Go Joe Bruin
- UCLA Football: It’s time for the nation to meet Dante Moore
- UCLA Football: Where are they ranked heading into week 4
- UCLA Football: Position battle breakdown for Utah showdown
- UCLA vs. Utah: Location, time, prediction, and more
- UCLA Football: Highlights from Chip Kelly’s appearance on the Jim Rome Show
In addition to this slamming piece of information came word from Jack’s doctor stating that he would not need microfracture surgery. Now maybe it’s just me, but the video and the doctor’s statement could have helped Jack before the draft started, not after Round 1 when millions of dollars could have been made.
We saw how quickly things turned south for Ole Miss OL Laremy Tunsil after his Twitter and Instagram were alledgedly hacked. This not only moved him down the board, but now Ole Miss is being investigated for improper benefits. Back to Jack…
Myles finally heard his named called as the 36th player in the NFL Draft as the Jacksonville Jaguars said, “That’s our guy!”
Jack was now in the League and all is right in the world.
Next: NFL Draft Day 3
Day 3
OL Caleb Benenoch, 148th (Round 5), Tampa Bay Buccaneers
RB Paul Perkins, 149th (Round 5), New York Giants
WR Jordan Payton, 154th (Round 5), Cleveland Browns
LB Aaron Wallace, 222nd (Round 7), Tennessee Titans
TE Thomas Duarte, 231st, (Round 7), Miami Dolphins
WR Devin Fuller, 238th, (Round 7), Atlanta Falcons
K Ka’Imi Fairbairn, undrafted, Houston Texans
C Jake Brendel, undrafted, Dallas Cowboys
Not that there was anything to worry about, but I was a little nervous to start Day 3. Only two Bruins were selected through three rounds, which was not what Sports Illustrated predicted and I so adamantly adhered to. But that is not important.
The draft started with Round 4. Nothing.
I was a little unsettled at this point because there were nine potential Bruins looking to have their named called. It looked bleak for a few selections into Round 5 and then WHAM! Two Bruins were taken back-to-back and three overall in that round. Benenoch was taken by Tampa Bay and Perkins was taken by the Giants. Five selections later, Payton was taken by Cleveland.
Related Story: UCLA Football Finishes Day 3 of the NFL Draft With 5 Players Signing With NFL Teams
Those three selections plus the previous two from the first two days tied for the most Bruins drafted in the Mora era, but it was not over.
In Round 7, Wallace, Duarte and Fuller all had their names called.
Fairbairn and Brendel went undrafted, but got signed by the Houston Texans and the Dallas Cowboys, respectively. That is 10 Bruins heading to an NFL team. Bravo.
The only snag in the day was Alex Redmond who was not drafted and as of 9pm Saturday night, has not signed with any team.
Next: 2016 NFL Draft First Round Grades
And with that wraps up our UCLA Football-NFL Draft Roundup. Thank you for reading and good night.