KANSAS CITY – A pair of Conference USA standouts came off the board in the NFL Draft on Saturday, as UAB RB DeWayne McBride was selected in the seventh round (222nd overall) by the Minnesota Vikings and Charlotte WR Grant DuBose also went in the seventh round (256th overall) to the Green Bay Packers. The pair joined third round selection, DT Brodric Martin of WKU, as the three C-USA players drafted in 2023.
McBride, a Walter Camp, Sporting News and Pro Football Focus Second Team All-America, Associated Press and Phil Steele Third Team All-America selection, finished the regular season as the nation’s leading rusher in 2022. He carried 233 times for 1,713 yards (155.3 yards per game and 7.35 yards per carry, which also led the nation) and 19 touchdowns (second-most in the country) and had 10 games of 100-plus yards rushing, as well as three of 200-plus. McBride set the single-season program records in 2022 for rushing yards, rushing yards per game, rushing touchdowns, rushes of 20-plus yards (23), yards per carry, 100-yard games, 200-yard games and total points (114). The Starke, Florida, native was the Conference USA Offensive Player of the Year and was a semifinalist for the Doak Walker Award.
For his three-year career at UAB, McBride carried 430 times for 3,148 yards and 32 touchdowns in 27 appearances for the Blazers, averaging 116.6 yards per game and 7.3 yards per carry.
DuBose hauled in 64 receptions for 792 yards and nine touchdowns for the 49ers in 2022 in 12 appearances. The Montgomery, Alabama, native and second team All-Conference USA selection earned invites to both the 2023 NFL Combine and Reese’s Senior Bowl. DuBose finished his two-season career in the Queen City fourth in program history in receiving yards (1,684), second in receiving yards per game (70.2) and tied for third all-time with 15 touchdown catches.
McBride and DuBose’s selections brings C-USA’s total number of draftees to 59 since 2016.
Conference USA 2023 NFL Draft Picks
Round 3, Pick 96 – DT Brodric Martin, WKU – Detroit Lions
Round 7, Pick 222 – RB DeWayne McBride, UAB – Minnesota Vikings
Round 7, Pick 256 – WR Grant DuBose, Charlotte – Green Bay Packers
