ARLINGTON, Texas – "The Green Bay Packers have traded the 14th pick to the New Orleans Saints. With the 14th pick of the 2018 NFL Draft, the New Orleans Saints select Marcus Davenport. Defensive end. Texas San Antonio."
And with those words by NFL Commissioner Roger Goodell, former UTSA standout Marcus Davenport became the first Roadrunner in program history to be selected in the first round of the NFL Draft.
#Saints select: DE Marcus Davenport! @MarcusJD84#SaintsDraft pic.twitter.com/3rnTtfUK1X
— New Orleans Saints (@Saints) April 27, 2018
Davenport joins 2016 NFL Draft selection David Morgan II, who was taken 188th overall (sixth round, pick 13) by the Minnesota Vikings, as Roadrunners to be drafted into the NFL.
From hometown hero to New Orleans. Congratulations, Marcus!#BuiltByUTSA #BirdsUp?? pic.twitter.com/s1TlArsl4C
— #BuiltByUTSA (@UTSAFTBL) April 27, 2018
Moreover, Davenport is the first selection by a Texas university in this year's draft, the second native Texan selected (Baker Mayfield, No. 1 overall by the Cleveland Browns) and Conference USA's highest selection since Louisiana Tech's Vernon Butler went 30th overall to the Carolina Panthers in 2016.
Davenport, the 2017 Conference USA Defensive Player of the Year and a three-time all-conference selection, set UTSA career records for tackles for loss (38.0), sacks (22.0) and QB hurries (21).
Welcome @MarcusJD84! #SaintsDraft pic.twitter.com/8FTbUg3Ujw
— New Orleans Saints (@Saints) April 27, 2018
For additional coverage of Marcus Davenport and UTSA at the NFL Draft, follow @UTSAFTBL on twitter and @UTSAAthletics on Instagram.
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