Jarrad Davis Drafted No. 21 Overall by Detroit Lions
Thursday, April 27, 2017 | Football
Davis became Florida’s first true linebacker selected in the first round since Clifford Charlton in 1988.
PHILADELPHIA – Former Gator linebacker Jarrad Davis was selected 21st overall in the first round of the 2017 NFL Draft on Thursday night by the Detroit Lions. Overall, UF has now had 51 first-round selections in its storied history and has totaled 15 first-round picks since 2007, which is third most among all schools nationally.
Only Alabama (23) and Ohio State (16) have more, while Florida State (12), Clemson (10) and Notre Dame (9) trail the Gators. was the first defensive and Southeastern Conference player taken in the Draft.
Listen to Davis' introductory conference call with the Detroit media here.
Davis becomes Florida's first true linebacker selected in the first round since Clifford Charlton was the 21st overall pick to the Cleveland Browns in 1988. In addition, the Kingsland, Ga. joins Glenn Cameron (1975), Wilber Marshall (1984) and Charlton as the only true linebackers that UF has had picked in the opening round.
.@J_Davis_40 ? @Lions
— Gators Football (@GatorsFB) April 28, 2017
#GatorMade #NFLDraft
??: https://t.co/asxMM26xxa pic.twitter.com/tzVCwC1GtN
"He's got the physical traits," NFL Network analyst Mike Mayock said following the selection. "He's today's NFL linebacker. He's tough; he's physical and has great sideline-to-sideline speed."
Detroit has now drafted eight Gators, most recently selecting Lomas Brown in the first round of the 1985 NFL Draft. In addition, Davis joins Brown and James Jones (1983) as Lions first round draft picks from Florida.
"Felt really fortunate to pick Jarrad as our 21st overall selection," Lions Executive Vice President and General Manager Bob Quinn said at a press conference. "He's a guy we spent a lot of time evaluating going back to our spring scouting last May and June and all the way through the process. From fall scouting, to the postseason, to an individual workout we had with him back in March, so it was a really good, thorough process. I thought everyone contributed from the area scouts, to the regional scouts, to the Director of College Scouting (Lance Newmark). It was the whole gamut with this guy and I felt like we did a really thorough job and got a player that's really going to help us."
UF has now had at least one pick in every NFL Draft since 1952, longest streak in the SEC.
UF Draft Notes:
- The Gators have had eight first round picks in the last five drafts.
- Florida has had a first round pick in 10 of the last 11 years.
- UF had now had four true linebackers selected in the first round:
- Glenn Cameron (1975)
- Wilber Marshall (1984)
- Clifford Charlton (1988)
- Jarrad Davis (2017)
- Overall, UF has had 51 first-round selections in its storied history and has totaled 16 first-round picks since 2007, which is third most among all schools nationally (Alabama, 23; Ohio State 16).
- Florida's 51 all-time first round picks are the sixth-best total in the nation and second among SEC programs, trailing only Alabama (55).
- At least one Florida player has been selected in every NFL Draft since 1952, the longest streak in SEC history.
- The Gators had five first round picks on defense in the last four years, which is tied for second behind Ohio State for the top total in the nation.
- UF has had the fourth-most first-round draft picks (49) among NCAA schools and the most in the Southeastern Conference in the Common Draft era (since 1967).
- Southern California (68), Ohio State (64) and Miami (FL) (59) are the three programs in front of Florida. Behind the Gators sit Alabama (47) and Notre Dame (41).
- Overall, UF has had 51 first-round selections in its storied history and has totaled 16 first-round picks since 2007, which is second most among all schools nationally (Alabama, 19).
- Florida's 51 all-time first round picks are the sixth-best total in the nation and second among SEC programs, trailing only Alabama (55).
- At least one Florida player has been selected in every NFL Draft since 1952, the longest streak in SEC history.
SEC Draft Notes:
- For the sixth time in the last seven years, the SEC once again led the nation in First Round NFL Draft selections.
- The SEC produced 12 opening-round draft picks, followed by the Big Ten (7), Pac-12 (6); ACC (4), Big 12 (1), AAC (1) and MAC (1).
- The 12 opening-round selections ties the SEC and all-time national record.
- The SEC had 12 First Round picks in 2017, four more than the eight (8) the league produced in 2016.
- Only five times in NFL Draft history as a single conference produced 10 or more First Round selections – the SEC accounts for four (4) of those occasions.
- During the last 11 NFL Drafts, the SEC has a nation-leading 101 players taken in the opening round, an average of over nine per season.
- Over the last seven NFL Drafts, the SEC has accounted for over 1/3 of the Top 10 selections.
- Since 2010, the SEC has more than double (77) the total amount of First Round selections than the next closest conference (ACC – 38).
- Seven different SEC teams, half of the conference, had a player taken in the First Round of the 2017 NFL Draft.
- The SEC now has 30 Top-10 picks since 2009 and 36 since 2007.
- Since 2009, Top 10 NFL picks by league: SEC (30); Big 12 (18); ACC (15); Pac-12 (15); B1G (5); MAC (3); AAC (1), BYU (1), FCS (1), Notre Dame (1)
- Over the last 19 NFL Drafts, the SEC has had the No. 1 pick eight times; Have also had a Top 3 pick 14 times and Top 5 pick 16 times.
- Outside of 2016, the SEC has had at least three Top 10 selections each year since the 2006
2017 First-Round Selections by Conference
- SEC: 12
- Big Ten: 7
- Pac-12: 6
- ACC: 4
- Big 12: 1
- AAC: 1
- MAC: 1
First-Round Selections Since 2010
- SEC: 77
- ACC: 38
- Pac-12: 36
- Big Ten: 34
- Big 12: 33
SEC First-Round Selections Since 2010
- 2017: 12
- 2016: 8
- 2015: 7
- 2014: 11
- 2013: 12
- 2012: 9
- 2011: 11
- 2010: 7
Jarrad Davis – Detroit Lions, 1st Round (No. 21 overall)
- 2016: Started nine games and totaled 60 tackles, 6.0 tackles-for-loss and had two sacks... Had four pass break-ups and five QB hurries… Despite missing four games due to a pair of injuries, Davis still finished second on the team in total tackles and fourth in quarterback hurries… After having to be helped off the field during Florida's win over Missouri due to an ankle injury, Davis defied the odds and played two weeks later against Georgia where he totaled a team-high seven tackles and two quarterback hurries… Named Sporting News and CBS Sports Second Team All-America… Garnered Second Team All-SEC honors by the league's Coaches, Athlon Sports and Gridiron Now… Named to the SEC Football Community Service Team… Selected as one of five Finalists for the Lott IMPACT Trophy, Pop Warner CFB Award, and the Butkus Award… Was one of 18 Chuck Bednarik Award Semifinalists.
- 2015: Played in 14 games and started in 12… Finished second on the team with 98 total tackles… Third on the team with 11 tackles-for-loss and had 3.5 sacks… Had seven quarterback hurries and broke up four passes, also intercepting one pass… Named Second Team All-SEC by Gridiron Now… Totaled a career high two sacks against Florida Atlantic.
- 2014: Played in nine games, making one start at linebacker, before an injury forced him to miss the final three games… Totaled 23 tackles with one tackle-for-loss… Earned the Hard Hat award for his performance against Eastern Michigan.
- 2013: True freshman enrolled in the summer and played in all 12 games, starting one game at linebacker… Named the team's Most Valuable Special Teams Player… Also served as a game captain for the Missouri and South Carolina… Key member of several special teams' units, totaling three special teams' tackles on the season… In his first career start against Georgia Southern, he totaled a season-high seven tackles, six solo… Named to the SEC First-Year Academic Honor Roll.
What's Out There?
- Check out all the social media buzz around Jarrad Davis being selected by the Lions.
The @Lions select @GatorsFB LB @J_Davis_40 with the 21st overall pick!#NFLDraft pic.twitter.com/hir0ndmgz3
— NFL (@NFL) April 28, 2017
With the 2??1??st pick in the 2017 #NFLDraft, the #Lions select LB Jarrad Davis! #OnePride pic.twitter.com/GXMf60jB6a
— Detroit Lions (@Lions) April 28, 2017
So proud of you, JD. Thanks for all you've done for the #Gators! Congrats!! #GatorMade #NFLDraft pic.twitter.com/hFrJvbdZro
— Jim McElwain (@CoachMcElwain) April 28, 2017
Congratulations @J_Davis_40 on being picked by the @Lions in the first round of the #NFLDraft! #GoGators #GatorMade pic.twitter.com/yXJPS0b3LP
— Gators Recruiting (@_Gators_) April 28, 2017
Watch live as GM Bob Quinn talks about the #Lions' first-round pick.??: NFL Network https://t.co/k3ek8QrmIH
— Detroit Lions (@Lions) April 28, 2017
Check out pics of the newest ??, Jarrad Davis ?? https://t.co/fG47VDFtsg #OnePride pic.twitter.com/8DJLiaTxwQ
— Detroit Lions (@Lions) April 28, 2017
What a special night for @J_Davis_40. Congrats, JD.
— Gators Football (@GatorsFB) April 28, 2017
The @Lions got a great player and an even better person.
??: https://t.co/asxMM26xxa pic.twitter.com/Kboxn0nKL0
Welcome to the #Squad, Jarrad Davis ?? pic.twitter.com/gufxcT8I7G
— Detroit Lions (@Lions) April 28, 2017
— Detroit Lions (@Lions) April 28, 2017
Jarrad Davis highlights = ??????
— Detroit Lions (@Lions) April 28, 2017
?? https://t.co/VFM9jn8sbW pic.twitter.com/SXDffqYEbN
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