List of Connecticut Huskies in the NFL Draft

See caption
Donald Brown was the first player in Connecticut Huskies football history to be drafted in the first round.[1]

The University of Connecticut (UConn) Huskies football team has had 39 players selected in the National Football League (NFL) Draft.[Note 1] Two of those selections were in the first round of the draft, both with the 27th overall pick: running back Donald Brown in 2009 and cornerback Byron Jones in 2015.[General][1][4] A Connecticut football alumnus has been selected in every NFL Draft since 2007 and ten of the last eleven NFL Drafts.

Each NFL franchise seeks to add new players through the annual NFL Draft. The draft rules were last updated in 2009. The team with the worst record the previous year picks first, the next-worst team second, and so on. Teams that did not make the playoffs are ordered by their regular-season record with any remaining ties broken by strength of schedule. Playoff participants are sequenced after non-playoff teams, based on their round of elimination (wild card, division, conference, and Super Bowl).[5]

Before the merger agreements in 1966, the American Football League (AFL) operated in direct competition with the NFL and held a separate draft. This led to a bidding war over top prospects between the two leagues. As part of the merger agreement on June 8, 1966, the two leagues would hold a multiple round "Common Draft". Once the AFL officially merged with the NFL in 1970, the "Common Draft" simply became the NFL Draft.[2][3]

The first Connecticut player to be taken in the NFL Draft was Walt Trojanowski in the sixth round of the 1946 NFL Draft. From 1946–1994, the Huskies had fourteen players drafted into the NFL over the span of forty-eight years. The rate at which UConn alumni were selected would significantly increase following the Huskies' upgrade from Division I-AA to Division I-A in 2000.[6][Note 2] Beginning in 2005 and continuing through 2015, Connecticut has had twenty-five players picked over eleven NFL Drafts. In 2009 four UConn alumni were taken in the first two rounds of the draft. The most Connecticut players to be selected in a single NFL Draft was five in 2013, including three in the third round, one in the fourth round, and one in the sixth round.

Player selection

See caption
Will Beatty was the first UConn draftee to play for a Super Bowl-winning team: the 2011 New York Giants.[Note 3][Note 4]
See caption
Quarterback Dan Orlovsky, drafted in the 5th round in the 2005 NFL Draft by the Detroit Lions, is as of 2015 Connecticut's longest-serving active alumnus in the NFL.[11]
See caption
Darius Butler was the first UConn alumnus to be selected in the second round of the NFL Draft, in 2009.

American Football League

Year Rnd Pick Overall Player name Position AFL team[Note 5] Notes Refs
1963 4 3 27 Contoulis, JohnJohn Contoulis Tackle New York Jets – [12][13]

National Football League

Year Rnd Pick Overall Player name Position NFL team[Note 5] Notes Refs
1946 6 9 49 Trojanowski, WaltWalt Trojanowski Back Washington Redskins – –
1946 9 4 74 Dropo, WaltWalt Dropo End Chicago Bears [Note 6][Note 7] –
1947 24 9 224 Moll, BillBill Moll Back New York Giants – –
1947 28 4 259 Dropo, MiltMilt Dropo Center Washington Redskins [Note 7] –
1958 18 5 210 King, LennyLenny King Back Washington Redskins – –
1962 11 13 153 Bishop, DaveDave Bishop Back New York Giants – –
1962 16 3 213 Contoulis, JohnJohn Contoulis Tackle New York Giants – [12][13]
1971 4 24 102 Clements, VinceVince Clements Running back Minnesota Vikings – [16][17]
1974 11 12 272 Torkelson, EricEric Torkelson Running back Green Bay Packers – [18][19]
1980 8 28 221 Walton, TedTed Walton Defensive back Pittsburgh Steelers – –
1984 4 15 99 Dorsey, JohnJohn Dorsey Linebacker Green Bay Packers – [20][21]
1989 9 15 238 Franks, DavidDavid Franks Guard Seattle Seahawks – –
1992 12 10 318 Benton, CorneliusCornelius Benton Guard Seattle Seahawks – –
1994 6 29 190 Duckworth, PaulPaul Duckworth Linebacker Green Bay Packers – –
2005 3 18 82 Fincher, AlfredAlfred Fincher Linebacker New Orleans Saints – [22][23]
2005 5 9 145 Orlovsky, DanDan Orlovsky Quarterback Detroit Lions – [24][25]
2007 6 21 195 Anderson, DeonDeon Anderson Running back Dallas Cowboys – [26][27]
2008 4 1 100 Branch, TyvonTyvon Branch Defensive back Oakland Raiders – [28][29]
2008 6 29 195 Thomas, DonaldDonald Thomas Guard Miami Dolphins – [30][31]
2009 1 27 27 Brown, DonaldDonald Brown Running back Indianapolis Colts – [1][32][33]
2009 2 9 41 Butler, DariusDarius Butler Defensive back New England Patriots – [34][35]
2009 2 28 60 Beatty, WillWill Beatty Offensive tackle New York Giants Super Bowl champion (XLVI)[8][Note 3] [8][36][37][38]
2009 2 31 63 Brown, CodyCody Brown Linebacker Arizona Cardinals – [39][40]
2010 4 9 107 Easley, MarcusMarcus Easley Wide receiver Buffalo Bills – [41][42]
2010 7 42 249 McClain, RobertRobert McClain Defensive back Carolina Panthers – [43][44]
2011 5 5 136 Sherman, AnthonyAnthony Sherman Fullback Arizona Cardinals – [45][46]
2011 6 1 166 Wilson, LawrenceLawrence Wilson Linebacker Carolina Panthers – [47][48]
2011 6 18 183 Todman, JordanJordan Todman Running back San Diego Chargers – [49][50]
2011 7 34 237 Lloyd, GregGreg Lloyd Linebacker Philadelphia Eagles – [51][52]
2012 2 17 49 Reyes, KendallKendall Reyes Defensive tackle San Diego Chargers – [53][54]
2013 3 2 64 Gratz, DwayneDwayne Gratz Defensive back Jacksonville Jaguars – [55][56]
2013 3 4 66 Moore, SioSio Moore Linebacker Oakland Raiders – [57][58]
2013 3 8 70 Wreh-Wilson, BlidiBlidi Wreh-Wilson Defensive back Tennessee Titans – [59][60]
2013 4 27 124 Williams, TrevardoTrevardo Williams Defensive end Houston Texans – [61][62]
2013 6 33 201 Griffin, RyanRyan Griffin Tight end Houston Texans – [63][64]
2014 7 5 220 Stephen, ShamarShamar Stephen Defensive tackle Minnesota Vikings – [65][66]
2014 7 38 253 Smallwood, YawinYawin Smallwood Linebacker Atlanta Falcons – [67][68]
2015 1 27 27 Jones, ByronByron Jones Cornerback Dallas Cowboys – [69][70]
2015 6 10 186 Davis, GeremyGeremy Davis Wide receiver New York Giants – [71][72]

Notes

  1. ↑ Because of the NFL–AFL merger agreement, the history of the AFL is officially recognized by the NFL and therefore this list includes the AFL Draft (1960–1966). The AFL and NFL held a Common Draft from 1967–1969; UConn had no players selected during that period.[2][3]
  2. ↑ In August 2006 the National Collegiate Athletic Association (NCAA) changed the name of Division I-A to Football Bowl Subdivision (FBS) and Division I-AA to Football Championship Subdivision (FCS).[7]
  3. 1 2 Beatty played the first ten games for the Giants during the 2011 season but after that was placed on injured reserve due to a detached retina. He did not play in Super Bowl XLVI.[8]
  4. ↑ While Beatty was the first Connecticut draftee to play on a Super Bowl-winning team, he was not the first alumnus to be a Super Bowl champion. Nick Giaquinto went undrafted and subsequently won Super Bowl XVII with the Washington Redskins.[9][10]
  5. 1 2 This is the team that drafted the player, not the player's most recent team.
  6. ↑ Walt Dropo was also selected 4th overall in the 1947 Basketball Association of America (BAA) Draft by the Providence Steamrollers.[14] He elected to play in neither league and instead signed a free agent contract with Major League Baseball's Boston Red Sox. He would be named American League Rookie of the Year in 1950.[15]
  7. 1 2 Walt and Milt Dropo were brothers.[15]

References

General

Specific

  1. 1 2 3 Perez, Joe (April 25, 2009). "NFL Draft: Brown heads UConn draft class". Norwich Bulletin. GateHouse Media, Inc. Archived from the original on April 19, 2010. Retrieved April 19, 2010.
  2. 1 2 Cross, B. Duane (January 22, 2001). "The AFL: A Football Legacy". Sports Illustrated. Archived from the original on October 20, 2009. Retrieved September 17, 2009.
  3. 1 2 "NFL History by Decade: 1961–1970". NFL. Archived from the original on October 20, 2009. Retrieved September 17, 2009.
  4. ↑ Conner, Desmond (May 1, 2015). "UConn's Byron Jones Goes No. 27 To Dallas Cowboys". Hartford Courant. Tribune Corporation. Archived from the original on September 21, 2015. Retrieved September 21, 2015.
  5. ↑ Clayton, John (March 26, 2009). "Draft order to change for playoff teams". ESPN.com. Archived from the original on January 26, 2010.
  6. ↑ Elsberry, Chris (December 30, 2010). "UConn's quick move to D-I success 'incomprehensible'". Connecticut Post. Hearst. Archived from the original on September 22, 2015. Retrieved September 22, 2015.
  7. ↑ Albright, Dave (December 15, 2006). "NCAA misses the mark in Division I-AA name change". espn.com. ESPN Internet Ventures. Archived from the original on May 10, 2010. Retrieved May 9, 2010.
  8. 1 2 3 Borden, Sam (January 30, 2012). "Giants Leave the Injured Back at Home, for Now". New York Times. New York Times Co. Archived from the original on September 19, 2015. Retrieved September 19, 2015.
  9. ↑ Conner, Desmond (April 29, 2015). "UConn Football: Top 10 Players Drafted". Hartford Courant. Tribune Corporation. Archived from the original on September 19, 2015. Retrieved September 19, 2015.
  10. ↑ Paxton, William S. (February 1, 2012). "Giaquinto savors his Super back-page moment". Connecticut Post. Hearst. Archived from the original on September 19, 2015. Retrieved September 19, 2015.
  11. ↑ Conner, Desmond (October 4, 2014). "Former QB Orlovsky Not Pleased With How Far UConn Has Fallen". Hartford Courant. Tribune Corporation. Archived from the original on September 21, 2015. Retrieved September 21, 2015.
  12. 1 2 "John Contoulis NFL Football Statistics". Pro-Football-Reference.com. Sports Reference LLC. Archived from the original on September 20, 2015. Retrieved September 20, 2015.
  13. 1 2 "John Contoulis, DT at NFL.com". NFL. Archived from the original on September 20, 2015. Retrieved September 20, 2015.
  14. ↑ "1947 BAA Draft". Basketball-Reference.com. Sports Reference LLC. Archived from the original on September 19, 2015. Retrieved September 19, 2015.
  15. 1 2 Amore, Don (December 18, 2010). "Walt Dropo Dies". Hartford Courant. Tribune Corporation. Archived from the original on September 19, 2015. Retrieved September 19, 2015.
  16. ↑ "Vince Clements NFL Football Statistics". Pro-Football-Reference.com. Sports Reference LLC. Archived from the original on September 20, 2015. Retrieved September 20, 2015.
  17. ↑ "Vince Clements, RB at NFL.com". NFL. Archived from the original on September 20, 2015. Retrieved September 20, 2015.
  18. ↑ "Eric Torkelson NFL Football Statistics". Pro-Football-Reference.com. Sports Reference LLC. Archived from the original on September 21, 2015. Retrieved September 21, 2015.
  19. ↑ "Eric Torkelson, RB at NFL.com". NFL. Archived from the original on September 21, 2015. Retrieved September 21, 2015.
  20. ↑ "John Dorsey NFL Football Statistics". Pro-Football-Reference.com. Sports Reference LLC. Archived from the original on September 21, 2015. Retrieved September 21, 2015.
  21. ↑ "John Dorsey, LB at NFL.com". NFL. Archived from the original on September 21, 2015. Retrieved September 21, 2015.
  22. ↑ "Alfred Fincher NFL Football Statistics". Pro-Football-Reference.com. Sports Reference LLC. Archived from the original on September 21, 2015. Retrieved September 21, 2015.
  23. ↑ "Alfred Fincher, LB at NFL.com". NFL. Archived from the original on September 21, 2015. Retrieved September 21, 2015.
  24. ↑ "Dan Orlovsky NFL Football Statistics". Pro-Football-Reference.com. Sports Reference LLC. Archived from the original on September 21, 2015. Retrieved September 21, 2015.
  25. ↑ "Dan Orlovsky, QB for the Detroit Lions at NFL.com". NFL. Archived from the original on September 21, 2015. Retrieved September 21, 2015.
  26. ↑ "Deon Anderson NFL Football Statistics". Pro-Football-Reference.com. Sports Reference LLC. Archived from the original on September 21, 2015. Retrieved September 21, 2015.
  27. ↑ "Deon Anderson, FB at NFL.com". NFL. Archived from the original on September 21, 2015. Retrieved September 21, 2015.
  28. ↑ "Tyvon Branch NFL Football Statistics". Pro-Football-Reference.com. Sports Reference LLC. Archived from the original on September 21, 2015. Retrieved September 21, 2015.
  29. ↑ "Tyvon Branch, DB for the Kansas City Chiefs at NFL.com". NFL. Archived from the original on September 21, 2015. Retrieved September 21, 2015.
  30. ↑ "Donald Thomas NFL Football Statistics". Pro-Football-Reference.com. Sports Reference LLC. Archived from the original on September 21, 2015. Retrieved September 21, 2015.
  31. ↑ "Donald Thomas, G for the Indianapolis Colts at NFL.com". NFL. Archived from the original on September 21, 2015. Retrieved September 21, 2015.
  32. ↑ "Donald Brown NFL Football Statistics". Pro-Football-Reference.com. Sports Reference LLC. Archived from the original on September 21, 2015. Retrieved September 21, 2015.
  33. ↑ "Donald Brown, RB for the San Diego Chargers at NFL.com". NFL. Archived from the original on September 21, 2015. Retrieved September 21, 2015.
  34. ↑ "Darius Butler NFL Football Statistics". Pro-Football-Reference.com. Sports Reference LLC. Archived from the original on October 9, 2015. Retrieved September 21, 2015.
  35. ↑ "Darius Butler, CB for the Indianapolis Colts at NFL.com". NFL. Archived from the original on October 9, 2015. Retrieved September 21, 2015.
  36. ↑ "Eli Manning, Giants thwart Pats again to cap magical run with 4th Super Bowl title". espn.com. ESPN Internet Ventures. February 6, 2012. Archived from the original on September 19, 2015. Retrieved September 19, 2015.
  37. ↑ "Will Beatty NFL Football Statistics". Pro-Football-Reference.com. Sports Reference LLC. Archived from the original on September 21, 2015. Retrieved September 21, 2015.
  38. ↑ "Will Beatty, T for the New York Giants at NFL.com". NFL. Archived from the original on September 21, 2015. Retrieved September 21, 2015.
  39. ↑ "Cody Brown NFL Football Statistics". Pro-Football-Reference.com. Sports Reference LLC. Archived from the original on October 9, 2015. Retrieved September 21, 2015.
  40. ↑ "Cody Brown, DE at NFL.com". NFL. Archived from the original on October 9, 2015. Retrieved September 21, 2015.
  41. ↑ "Marcus Easley NFL Football Statistics". Pro-Football-Reference.com. Sports Reference LLC. Archived from the original on September 21, 2015. Retrieved September 21, 2015.
  42. ↑ "Marcus Easley, WR for the Buffalo Bills at NFL.com". NFL. Archived from the original on September 21, 2015. Retrieved September 21, 2015.
  43. ↑ "Robert McClain NFL Football Statistics". Pro-Football-Reference.com. Sports Reference LLC. Archived from the original on October 9, 2015. Retrieved September 21, 2015.
  44. ↑ "Robert McClain, DB for the New England Patriots at NFL.com". NFL. Archived from the original on October 9, 2015. Retrieved September 21, 2015.
  45. ↑ "Anthony Sherman NFL Football Statistics". Pro-Football-Reference.com. Sports Reference LLC. Archived from the original on September 21, 2015. Retrieved September 21, 2015.
  46. ↑ "Anthony Sherman, FB for the Kansas City Chiefs at NFL.com". NFL. Archived from the original on September 21, 2015. Retrieved September 21, 2015.
  47. ↑ "Lawrence Wilson NFL Football Statistics". Pro-Football-Reference.com. Sports Reference LLC. Archived from the original on September 21, 2015. Retrieved September 21, 2015.
  48. ↑ "Lawrence Wilson, LB at NFL.com". NFL. Archived from the original on September 21, 2015. Retrieved September 21, 2015.
  49. ↑ "Jordan Todman NFL Football Statistics". Pro-Football-Reference.com. Sports Reference LLC. Archived from the original on September 21, 2015. Retrieved September 21, 2015.
  50. ↑ "Jordan Todman, RB for the Pittsburgh Steelers at NFL.com". NFL. Archived from the original on September 21, 2015. Retrieved September 21, 2015.
  51. ↑ "Greg Lloyd NFL Football Statistics". Pro-Football-Reference.com. Sports Reference LLC. Archived from the original on September 22, 2015. Retrieved September 22, 2015.
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  53. ↑ "Kendall Reyes NFL Football Statistics". Pro-Football-Reference.com. Sports Reference LLC. Archived from the original on September 22, 2015. Retrieved September 22, 2015.
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  58. ↑ "Sio Moore, LB for the Indianapolis Colts at NFL.com". NFL. Archived from the original on September 22, 2015. Retrieved September 22, 2015.
  59. ↑ "Blidi Wreh-Wilson NFL Football Statistics". Pro-Football-Reference.com. Sports Reference LLC. Archived from the original on September 22, 2015. Retrieved September 22, 2015.
  60. ↑ "Blidi Wreh-Wilson, CB for the Tennessee Titans at NFL.com". NFL. Archived from the original on September 22, 2015. Retrieved September 22, 2015.
  61. ↑ "Trevardo Williams NFL Football Statistics". Pro-Football-Reference.com. Sports Reference LLC. Archived from the original on September 22, 2015. Retrieved September 22, 2015.
  62. ↑ "Trevardo Williams, OLB for the Washington Redskins at NFL.com". NFL. Archived from the original on September 22, 2015. Retrieved September 22, 2015.
  63. ↑ "Ryan Griffin NFL Football Statistics". Pro-Football-Reference.com. Sports Reference LLC. Archived from the original on September 22, 2015. Retrieved September 22, 2015.
  64. ↑ "Ryan Griffin, TE for the Houston Texans at NFL.com". NFL. Archived from the original on September 22, 2015. Retrieved September 22, 2015.
  65. ↑ "Shamar Stephen NFL Football Statistics". Pro-Football-Reference.com. Sports Reference LLC. Archived from the original on September 22, 2015. Retrieved September 22, 2015.
  66. ↑ "Shamar Stephen, DT for the Minnesota Vikings at NFL.com". NFL. Archived from the original on September 22, 2015. Retrieved September 22, 2015.
  67. ↑ "Yawin Smallwood NFL Football Statistics". Pro-Football-Reference.com. Sports Reference LLC. Archived from the original on September 22, 2015. Retrieved September 22, 2015.
  68. ↑ "Yawin Smallwood, ILB for the Tennessee Titans at NFL.com". NFL. Archived from the original on September 22, 2015. Retrieved September 22, 2015.
  69. ↑ "Byron Jones NFL Football Statistics". Pro-Football-Reference.com. Sports Reference LLC. Archived from the original on September 22, 2015. Retrieved September 22, 2015.
  70. ↑ "Byron Jones, CB for the Dallas Cowboys at NFL.com". NFL. Archived from the original on September 22, 2015. Retrieved September 22, 2015.
  71. ↑ "Geremy Davis NFL Football Statistics". Pro-Football-Reference.com. Sports Reference LLC. Archived from the original on September 22, 2015. Retrieved September 22, 2015.
  72. ↑ "Geremy Davis, WR for the New York Giants at NFL.com". NFL. Archived from the original on September 22, 2015. Retrieved September 22, 2015.

External links

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