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The University of Utah Athletics
Utes Send Five To The Pros In 2019 NFL Draft
4/27/2019 5:32 PM | Football
NASHVILLE, Tenn. – The University of Utah football program was represented well in Nashville this week as five former Utes were taken in the 2019 NFL Draft.
In the last three years, the Utes have had 14 players taken in the NFL Draft, including having four or more go in three of the last five drafts. Safety Marquise Blair, linebacker Cody Barton, punter Mitch Wishnowsky, kicker Matt Gay and offensive lineman Jackson Barton were all taken in this year's draft.Â
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The Utes sent players to begin their professional careers in the second, third, fourth, fifth and seventh rounds this week, starting with Blair. The Wooster, Ohio, native was the 47thoverall pick to the Seattle Seahawks in the second round.Â
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Blair is the 14thplayer in program history get drafted in the second round and the 11thUtah defensive back drafted by the NFL during Kyle Whittingham's tenure as head coach.Â
He made the second-team All-Pac-12 team as a senior when he came back to play in all 14 games with 12 starts. Blair, who is known for his ground-rattling hits, recorded 59 tackles, including two for loss of yards, and had two interceptions in 2019.Â
Blair quickly learned he'd be seeing a familiar face at rookie camp after Cody Barton was then drafted by the Seahawks in the third round with the 88thoverall pick. It is the first time since 2006 that the Utes have had two players picked by the same team in the same year.Â
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As a senior in 2018, Barton earned Pac-12 All-Conference honorable mention after leading Utah with 116 total tackles. He started all 14 games at middle linebacker, finishing 10thin the Pac-12 in tackles per game (8.3) and 11thin tackles for loss (10.5).Â
The Utes continued to make waves on Saturday as both Utah specialists Wishnowsky and Gay were drafted in the fourth and fifth rounds, respectively. It was the first time since 1985 that a punter and a kicker from the same school were drafted in the same year and it was the first time since 2006 that a punter and a kicker went in the first 150 picks.Â
Wishnowsky, the 110thoverall pick in the fourth round to the San Francisco 49ers, was the first punter out of Utah drafted since 1979. The Perth, Australia native is a three-time All-American, the 2016 Ray Guy Award winner and the only three-time Ray Guy Award finalist in NCAA history. He was also a three-time first-team All-Pac-12 selection.
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Gay, the 145thoverall pick in the fifth round to Tampa Bay, became the first Utah kicker taken in the NFL Draft.Â
In two seasons at Utah, Gay was the 2017 Lou Groza Award winner, a two-time All-American (consensus in 2017) and two-time first-team All-Pac-12 pick. He ranks third all-time at Utah with 56 career field goals, is fourth in attempts (65), third in career kick scoring points (253), set the school record for 50-yard field goals made (8), ranks second in career field goal percentage (86.15) and is seventh in career PATs made (85).Â
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Wrapping up the draft for the Utes today was Jackson Barton in the seventh round, heading to the Indianapolis Colts with the 240thoverall pick.Â
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A four-year letterman and two-year starter for the Utes at left tackle, Barton earned first-team All-Pac-12 honors as a senior. He played in 53 games during his time in Salt Lake City, appearing on the line in 44 games with 29 starts.Â
With the draft coming to an end today, several other former Utes will get their shot at the pros with free agent signings and invitations to NFL rookie camps. Stay tuned to UtahUtes.com for more information on the Utes in the Pros.Â
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In the last three years, the Utes have had 14 players taken in the NFL Draft, including having four or more go in three of the last five drafts. Safety Marquise Blair, linebacker Cody Barton, punter Mitch Wishnowsky, kicker Matt Gay and offensive lineman Jackson Barton were all taken in this year's draft.Â
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ÂFor those keeping track at home, that's ??for the Utes!#NFLDraft #UtesInTheNFL
— Utah Football (@Utah_Football) April 27, 2019
The Utes sent players to begin their professional careers in the second, third, fourth, fifth and seventh rounds this week, starting with Blair. The Wooster, Ohio, native was the 47thoverall pick to the Seattle Seahawks in the second round.Â
Â
ÂWith #Pick47, we've selected Marquise Blair! ??#SeahawksDraft pic.twitter.com/gLlPY65qe5
— Seattle Seahawks (@Seahawks) April 27, 2019
Blair is the 14thplayer in program history get drafted in the second round and the 11thUtah defensive back drafted by the NFL during Kyle Whittingham's tenure as head coach.Â
He made the second-team All-Pac-12 team as a senior when he came back to play in all 14 games with 12 starts. Blair, who is known for his ground-rattling hits, recorded 59 tackles, including two for loss of yards, and had two interceptions in 2019.Â
Blair quickly learned he'd be seeing a familiar face at rookie camp after Cody Barton was then drafted by the Seahawks in the third round with the 88thoverall pick. It is the first time since 2006 that the Utes have had two players picked by the same team in the same year.Â
Â
ÂAnother Ute!
— Seattle Seahawks (@Seahawks) April 27, 2019
With #Pick88, we've selected Cody Barton! ??#SeahawksDraft pic.twitter.com/vXZEkyi34e
As a senior in 2018, Barton earned Pac-12 All-Conference honorable mention after leading Utah with 116 total tackles. He started all 14 games at middle linebacker, finishing 10thin the Pac-12 in tackles per game (8.3) and 11thin tackles for loss (10.5).Â
The Utes continued to make waves on Saturday as both Utah specialists Wishnowsky and Gay were drafted in the fourth and fifth rounds, respectively. It was the first time since 1985 that a punter and a kicker from the same school were drafted in the same year and it was the first time since 2006 that a punter and a kicker went in the first 150 picks.Â
Wishnowsky, the 110thoverall pick in the fourth round to the San Francisco 49ers, was the first punter out of Utah drafted since 1979. The Perth, Australia native is a three-time All-American, the 2016 Ray Guy Award winner and the only three-time Ray Guy Award finalist in NCAA history. He was also a three-time first-team All-Pac-12 selection.
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#ForTheBrand??
— San Francisco 49ers (@49ers) April 27, 2019
The #49ers have selected punter @mitchwish with the 110th overall pick.#49ersDraft x #NFLDraft pic.twitter.com/u0rYaXv5Oz
Gay, the 145thoverall pick in the fifth round to Tampa Bay, became the first Utah kicker taken in the NFL Draft.Â
In two seasons at Utah, Gay was the 2017 Lou Groza Award winner, a two-time All-American (consensus in 2017) and two-time first-team All-Pac-12 pick. He ranks third all-time at Utah with 56 career field goals, is fourth in attempts (65), third in career kick scoring points (253), set the school record for 50-yard field goals made (8), ranks second in career field goal percentage (86.15) and is seventh in career PATs made (85).Â
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Welcome to the Krewe, @MGtweetymonster!#NFLDraft pic.twitter.com/1NFVZxsgPh
— Tampa Bay Buccaneers (@Buccaneers) April 27, 2019
Wrapping up the draft for the Utes today was Jackson Barton in the seventh round, heading to the Indianapolis Colts with the 240thoverall pick.Â
Â
Welcome home, Jackson! #ColtsDraft pic.twitter.com/H3wROyx92G
— Indianapolis Colts (@Colts) April 27, 2019
A four-year letterman and two-year starter for the Utes at left tackle, Barton earned first-team All-Pac-12 honors as a senior. He played in 53 games during his time in Salt Lake City, appearing on the line in 44 games with 29 starts.Â
With the draft coming to an end today, several other former Utes will get their shot at the pros with free agent signings and invitations to NFL rookie camps. Stay tuned to UtahUtes.com for more information on the Utes in the Pros.Â
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