LSU ties record, SEC falls just shy of one on NFL draft’s third day

The reigning national champions were not done setting records.

LSU had a record 10 players selected in the first three rounds of the 2020 NFL draft. Offensive lineman Saahdiq Charles, Rashard Lawrence and Blake Furguson were next on day three, giving LSU an SEC-record 13 selections.

When tight end Stephen Sullivan came off the board late in the seventh round, LSU tied the all-time record for most players selected in one draft with 14 (Ohio State, 2004).

It’s another hat tip to LSU’s prolific 2019 season. It shattered several records during a 15-0 campaign that culminated with a blowout victory over Clemson, college football’s standard.

Aside from LSU, the rest of the conference had another strong showing. The SEC fell just shy of tying its own record for most players selected in a draft. The record is 64, set last year, and the SEC had 63 players selected this year. The next highest for a conference was the Big 10 with 48.

SEC/ACC players taken in fourth round:

> The Raiders traded up for Clemson guard John Simpson at pick  No. 109, improving their offensive line depth. Vegas loves Alabama and Clemson athletes, now boasting eight players from the 2019 title game.

> Georgia guard Soloman Kindley will be blocking for Tua Tagovailoa in Miami. The Dolphins took “Big Fish” with No. 111.

> Minnesota selected South Carolina's D.J. Wonnum with the 117th pick. The Vikings had long been eyeing the defensive end, according to ESPN's Courtney Cronin.

“This is a tremendous value pick because of the versatility it gives them,” said ESPN analyst Louis Riddick, who added Wonnum is in the same mold as current Vikings defensive end and LSU product Danielle Hunter.

> With the next pick, the Broncos took a player with whom quarterback Drew Lock is familiar: Missouri tight end Adam Okwuegbunam. The theme of their draft has been surrounding Lock with weapons, and here they gave him a college teammate.

“Drew Lock’s got a big arm, and they’re going to challenge that arm because all these (Broncos pass catchers) can get vertical,” draft analyst Daniel Jeremiah said.

> The Jets took Florida running back Lamical Perine at No. 120. New York also took Gators edge rusher Jabari Zuniga on Friday night.

> Kentucky guard Logan Stenberg will be blocking for several SEC talents - Matt Stafford, Kerryon Johnson, D’Andre Swift - in Detroit. The Lions took him with the next selection.

> At last, Jacob Eason found a home. The Colts took him at pick No. 123. Eason, who was a highly touted recruit, famously lost his job to Jake Fromm, transferring from Georgia to Washington. He played only two full seasons of college football: his freshman season with the Bulldogs and last season with the Huskies.

Eason is physically gifted with the strongest arm in the class. ESPN’s Chris Mortensen noted there were work ethic concerns on top of inconsistent film that pushed him down the board.

Still, Jeremiah and Riddick loved the fit, with the latter calling Indianapolis the “perfect situation” for Eason. He’ll sit behind veteran Phillip Rivers and work with coach Frank Reich, a renowned quarterback guru.

“You talk about traits, the size and arm strength of Jacob Eason are at an elite level,” Jeremiah said. “You can put his highlight 15 throws against anybody. He can reach any blade of grass on the field with his arm strength.

“The problem is, he’s still learning the position. He needs some of that experience, needs to get a little more comfortable moving around in the pocket. He has a bad habit of trying to spin out of pressure. But he’s going to get a chance to sit behind Phillip Rivers. I don’t know if there’s a better person for Eason to study and learn under.”

> North Carolina tackle Charlie Heck went to the Texans at No. 126. Houston has been trying to improve its line across the past calendar year, drafting two offensive linemen last year and trading a premium for Laremy Tunsil.

> The Eagles took Clemson safety K’Von Wallace with the 127th pick. Since 2017, the versatile Wallace had a 92.1 coverage rating from Pro Football Focus, best among the class’s safeties.

> Arizona selected Rashard Lawrence at No. 131, boosting its defensive line with the monstrous LSU tackle. Lawrence is an applauded leader and brings toughness in the trenches, needed in the Cardinals’ rebuilt defense.

“Plays with dog mentality and is ready to turn any rep into a street fight if he needs to,” wrote NFL draft analyst Lance Zierlein.

> Miami had its first player taken at pick 140, the latest the first Hurricane has gone since 2013. The Jaguars selected linebacker Shaquille Quarterman, a leader on the ‘Canes’ defense.

> Another Hurricane went four picks later. DeeJay Dallas, a versatile pass catching back, went to Seattle.

> The Eagles picked Auburn offensive lineman Jack Driscoll at No. 145. He allowed only four quarterback hits in 1,690 reps, according to Pro Football Focus’ data. Driscoll was announced as a guard.

SEC/ACC prospects selected in fifth round:

> Syracuse edge rusher Alton Robinson fell further than expected but landed in a good situation with Seattle (No. 148). He’s the highest drafted Syracuse player since defensive tackle Jay Bromley in 2014 (74 overall).

> The Chargers took Virginia receiver Joe Reed at  No. 151. Los Angeles further added to its impressive receiver group. Reed can also return kicks, averaging 33 yards a return last season and almost 29 yards per return across a four-year collegiate career. His 3,042 kick return yards are ninth most in FBS history.

> Miami chose UNC defensive end Jason Strowbridge with the 154th pick. Strowbridge grew up in South Florida and starred at Deerfield Beach High School.

> Jacksonville picked Auburn safety Daniel Thomas with the 157th choice. Thomas pairs with first rounder C.J. Henderson, of Florida, and Michigan State cornerback Josiah Scott to inject youth into the Jaguars’ secondary.

> Virginia cornerback Bryce Hall was considered a potential late first rounder or early second. Instead, he fell to the Jets at pick 158. Hall was one of the best corners in college football but a dislocated ankle and torn ligament made his medicals a question.

> Georgia quarterback Jake Fromm landed in Buffalo at the 167th pick. Fromm, who surely aimed to go higher when he left school early, will backup Josh Allen on a Bills team hoping to dethrone the Patriots in the AFC East.

Funny enough, Fromm's profile is the opposite of the big-armed Allen's. The two share an agency and Allen has already reached out to welcome Fromm to upstate New York.

> Miami receiver and returner K.J. Osborn was taken 176th by Minnesota. He was the third Hurricane taken in the draft, all on day three.

> Wake Forest had its first player drafted at pick No. 178: linebacker Justin Strnad to the Broncos. He’s regarded as a coverage linebacker and special teams contributor.

SEC/ACC prospects selected in sixth round:

> No. 185: Miami took Blake Furguson, LS, LSU

> No. 190: San Francisco took Charlie Woerner, TE, Georgia

> No. 191: New York Jets took Braden Mann, P, Texas A&M

> No. 195: New England took Justin Herron, G, Wake Forest

> No. 206: Jacksonville took Tyler Davis, TE, Georgia Tech

> No. 210: Philadelphia took Prince Tega Wanogho, T, Auburn

> No. 214: Seattle took Freddie Swain, WR, Florida

SEC/ACC prospects selected in seventh round:

> No. 216: Washington took Kamren Curl, S, Arkansas

> No. 217: San Francisco took Jauan Jennings, WR, Tennessee

> No. 228: Atlanta took Sterling Hofrichter, P, Syracuse

> No. 229: Washington took James Smith-Williams, DE, North Carolina State

> No. 238: New York Giants took T.J. Brunson, LB, South Carolina

> No. 240: New Orleans took Tommy Stephens, QB, Mississippi State

> No. 242: Green Bay took Jonathan Garvin, DE, Miami

> No. 249: Minnesota took Brian Cole II, S, Mississippi State

> No. 250: Los Angeles Rams took Tremayne Anchrum, G, Clemson

> No. 251: Seattle took Stephen Sullivan, TE, LSU

> No. 252: Denver took Tyrie Cleveland, WR, Florida

> No. 255: New York Giants took Tae Crowder, LB, Georgia