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The University of Utah Athletics
Four Utes Selected in NFL Draft
4/27/2015 12:00 AM | Football
May 2, 2015
Rowe Taken by Philadelphia in Second Round of NFL Draft
Orchard Drafted in Second Round by Cleveland
Poutasi Tabbed by Tennessee in Third Round of NFL Draft
Clay Selected in Sixth Round of NFL Draft by Tampa Bay
Utah Draft Tracker
NFL Draft Home Page
NFL Draft Tracker
CHICAGO - Four former University of Utah football players were selected in this weekend's NFL Draft in Chicago's Auditorium Theatre of Roosevelt University and others anticipate signing free agent contracts.
Cornerback/safety Eric Rowe was picked by Philadelphia and defensive end/outside linebacker Nate Orchard was selected by Cleveland in the second round of the 2015 NFL Draft on Friday. Utah offensive lineman Jeremiah Poutasi was chosen in the third round by the Tennessee Titans, while returner/wide receiver Kaelin Clay went to Tampa Bay in sixth round on Saturday.
This was the first time in school history three Utes have been taken in the first three rounds. Four Utes going in this year's draft is the most selections for the program since 2010 when a school record of six Utah players were picked: Zane Beadles (second round by Denver), Koa Misi (second round by Miami), Robert Johnson (fifth round by Tennessee), David Reed (fifth round by Baltimore), Stevenson Sylvester (fifth round by Pittsburgh) and R.J. Stanford (seventh round by Carolina).
Rowe, the 47th overall pick, is the seventh Utah player to be picked by the Philadelphia Eagles. Most recently, Joe Kruger was a seventh-round pick by the franchise in 2013.
Rowe exploded onto team's draft boards with an impressive showing at the NFL Draft Combine, where he was an NFL.com `Top Performer' in all seven disciplines.
At Utah, the 6-foot-1, 205-pounder was a four-year starter who moved to corner his senior season after starting at free safety his first three seasons.
His 34 career pass breakups tied for the third-most in school history. He was two-time honorable mention All-Pac-12 and made four Freshman All-America teams in 2011.
Four other former Utah cornerbacks or safeties are on current NFL rosters: Brice McCain (Miami), Keith McGill (Oakland), Sean Smith (Kansas City) and Eric Weddle (San Diego).
.@EricRowe18 is heading to the @Eagles!!!! #GoUtes #UtesInTheNFL #NFLDraft pic.twitter.com/wTbvAgJTLr
-- Utah Football (@Utah_Football) May 2, 2015
Orchard, the 51st overall pick, will join former Ute Paul Kruger on the Cleveland defense. He is the fourth former Utah player to be selected by the franchise and the first since Willie Armstead went in the 13th round in 1975.
Standing 6-foot-3 and weighing 250 pounds, Orchard is viewed by NFL.com as a versatile pass rusher who will fit in at either defensive end or outside linebacker at the next level.
In the 2015 Senior Bowl, Orchard was named the North's Most Outstanding Player after recording five tackles and two quarterback hits.
During his senior season at Utah, Orchard was a first-team All-American, Ted Hendricks Award and Morris Award winner in 2014 after leading the nation in sacks per game (1.46) and finishing second in total sacks (18.5).
As a three-year starter for the Utes, Orchard finished his career tied for third in school history in career sacks (25). He registered 38.5 career tackles for loss to tie for the second-most ever by a Ute.
Seven former Utes are either defensive ends or linebackers on current NFL rosters: Joe Kruger (Pittsburgh), Paul Kruger (Cleveland), Koa Misi (Miami), Tenny Palepoi (San Diego), Trevor Reilly (New York Jets), Derrick Shelby (Miami) and Stevenson Sylvester (Buffalo).
Rnd 2, Pick 51: #Browns
DE Nate Orchard, @Utah_Football
#NFLDraft pic.twitter.com/4Rt2S22Tzb
-- CollegeFootball 24/7 (@NFL_CFB) May 2, 2015
Twelve former Utes have now been selected in the second round of the NFL Draft in school history. Zane Beadles (selected by Denver) and Koa Misi (selected by Miami) were also second-round choices in the same season (2010), which was also the last time Utah players were taken in the second round.
The Utes have had multiple players selected in the same round during the same year nine times in school history: 2015 second round, 2010 second round, 2010 fifth round (a school-record three players were selected), 2006 seventh round, 2005 seventh round, 2000 sixth round, 1995 seventh round, 1968 10th round and 1965 seventh round.
Poutasi was chosen in the third round of the 2015 NFL Draft by the Tennessee Titans.
Poutasi, the 66th overall pick, is the 10th former Ute to be chosen in the third round of the NFL Draft and the eighth Utah player to be selected by the Tennessee Titans' franchise. Robert Johnson most recently went to the Titans in the fifth round of the 2010 draft.
Checking in at 6-foot-5, 335 pounds, Poutasi was a second-team All-Pac-12 selection in 2014 and named the Las Vegas Bowl Offensive "Out-Performer" of the Game.
Before declaring for the NFL Draft following his junior year, Poutasi started each season for the Utes and played in 36-of-37 games in his career with 35 starts. He slid out to left tackle for his final two seasons at Utah after starting at right tackle as a true freshman, but is projected by NFL.com as a guard.
Three other former Utes are offensive linemen on current NFL rosters, including Zane Beadles (Jacksonville), Tony Bergstrom (Oakland) and Sam Brenner (Miami).
#NFLDraft Friday belongs to @Utah_Football! Jeremiah Poutasi is headed to the @TennesseeTitans! #BackThePac pic.twitter.com/2VlnoP9PmC
-- Pac-12 Networks (@Pac12Networks) May 2, 2015
Clay was picked by the Tampa Bay Buccaneers in the sixth round of the 2015 NFL Draft on Saturday. Four Utes have now been selected in this year's draft, the most selections for the program since 2010.
Clay, the 184th overall pick, becomes the second Ute to ever be selected by Tampa Bay. Paris Warren was a seventh-round selection of the Buccaneers in 2005. There have been 12 former Utah players selected in the sixth round in school history, most recently with Caleb Schlauderaff being picked by Green Bay in 2011.
Four Utes going in this year's draft is the most selections for the program since 2010 when a school record of six Utah players were picked: Zane Beadles (second round by Denver), Koa Misi (second round by Miami), Robert Johnson (fifth round by Tennessee), David Reed (fifth round by Baltimore), Stevenson Sylvester (fifth round by Pittsburgh) and R.J. Stanford (seventh round by Carolina).
Clay, a 5-foot-10, 195-pound speedster who started at wide receiver in his only season at Utah in 2014, made four All-America teams as a punt returner: first team Sporting News, CBSSports.com and FOXSports.com, and second team Scout.com. Clay was also named a first-team All-Pac-12 return specialist and won the College Football Performance Awards (CFPA) Punt Returner Trophy.
Clay returned three punts for touchdowns during his historic season, which tied for first in the nation and also tied the school record. He led the Pac-12 and ranked fourth in the nation in punt return average (15.0) and was one of two players in the country with four total returns for touchdowns (3 punt, 1 kickoff).
Two other former Utah receivers are currently on NFL rosters: Steve Smith (Baltimore) and Reggie Dunn (Dallas).
Get to know new #Bucs WR Kaelin Clay (@CALiboy4)
READ: http://t.co/Rl2WFuEOpl #NFLDraft pic.twitter.com/8715PetrPK
-- Tampa Bay Buccaneers (@TBBuccaneers) May 2, 2015
With seven players either getting drafted or signing free agent contracts this week, there are now 31 former Utes on current NFL rosters.
Because I chose Utah... #NFLDraft2015 #GoUtes pic.twitter.com/whqmTr16wX
-- Utah Football (@Utah_Football) April 27, 2015
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