DALLAS – Conference USA had four players selected in the 2021 National Football League Draft, which concluded early Saturday evening. Louisiana Tech, Marshall, North Texas and UAB each had a player chosen to continue their football careers in the NFL.
The four selections give Conference USA a total of 247 players taken in the NFL Draft since 1996.
Louisiana Tech DT Milton Williams was the first C-USA player to be selected as he was taken in the third round by the Philadelphia Eagles at No. 73 overall. Williams became the 81st Bulldog in school history to be selected in the NFL Draft, and he was the highest LA Tech selection since Vernon Butler (30th overall in 2016). The Bulldogs have had at least one player selected in each of the last six NFL Drafts, with 11 total over that time period. Williams earned 2020 First Team All-Conference USA honors by both C-USA and Phil Steele, and was named a third team All-American by Pro Football Focus. As a junior in 2020, he was third in Conference USA in tackles for loss with 10 and seventh in sacks with 4.5. He was fifth on the Bulldogs in tackles with 44 (21 solo) and had two quarterback hurries and one fumble recovery. He had a season-high eight tackles and three tackles for loss against UAB on Oct. 31. Williams had at least three tackles in every game of the 2020 season. Williams was a C-USA Honorable Mention selection as a sophomore in 2019, and he finished his Louisiana Tech career with 106 total tackles (49 solo), 19 tackles for loss and 10 sacks (nine solo). He helped lead the Bulldogs to a trip to the R+L Carriers New Orleans Bowl.
UAB OLB Jordan Smith was selected by the Jacksonville Jaguars in the fourth round (No. 121 overall). Smith is the 15th player in UAB history selected in the NFL Draft, and he is the first Blazer drafted since UAB returned to play in 2017. He is also the sixth player in UAB history to be drafted in the top four rounds. A two-time All-Conference USA player and a first-teamer in 2020, Smith helped anchor a Blazers defensive group that finished in the top 10 nationally in total defense in 2020 (seventh) and 2019 (eighth). The redshirt junior posted 43 total tackles (9.5 for loss), 4.5 sacks, one interception and eight quarterback hurries in 2020 as he helped lead the Blazers to the Conference USA title. Smith made a career-high nine tackles at Miami, and he was named C-USA Defensive Player of the Week on Dec. 14 after helping the Blazers clinch the C-USA West Division title with a 21-16 victory over Rice. He compiled 96 total tackles, 27 tackles for loss and 14.5 sacks in 23 career games. He ranks ninth at UAB in career sacks, and his 10 sacks in 2019 were tied for the fifth-most single-season total in school history.
Eight picks later, the defending Super Bowl champion Tampa Bay Buccaneers selected North Texas All-American WR Jaelon Darden with the 129th overall pick in the fourth round. He was named an All-American by ESPN, a first-team All-American by the Football Writers Association of America (FWAA) and Pro Football Focus and a second-team All-American by Associated Press, Sporting News, The Athletic and the American Football Coaches Association (AFCA). Darden was the 2020 Conference USA Most Valuable Player and a First Team All-Conference USA performer after catching 74 passes for 1,190 yards and 19 touchdowns in nine games (all starts). The senior was second in FBS in receiving TDs, third in receiving yards, third in receiving yards per game (132.2) and seventh in receptions per game (8.2) – all Conference USA-leading totals. Darden finished his career as the Mean Green’s all-time leader in career receptions (230), receiving yards (2,782) and receiving touchdowns (38), is the program record holder for single-season receiving touchdowns (19 in 2020), ranks second in total (receiving/rushing/returns) career touchdowns (39) and is second in single-season receiving yards (1,190 in 2020). He had nine career multi-touchdown games and six career three-touchdown games, with four coming in 2020. Darden was named a finalist for the 2020 Earl Campbell Tyler Rose Award and a semifinalist for the 2020 Biletnikoff Award.
Marshall OT Josh Ball was selected No. 138 overall by the Dallas Cowboys in the fourth round. He became the first Thundering Herd player to be selected by the Cowboys in the program’s history. Ball is Marshall’s highest draftee since Aaron Dobson in 2013 (No. 59 overall in the second round) and is the Herd’s first offensive lineman taken in the first four rounds since Steve Scuillo in 2003 (fourth round, No. 122 overall). The redshirt senior was a key to the Herd’s success in 2020 as he started eight games at tackle and was named First Team All-Conference USA for his efforts. Ball made an immediate impact on the offensive line as a junior in 2019, playing in all 13 games, including one start. He helped the Herd’s run game finish second in Conference USA in rushing, paving the way for C-USA MVP running back Brenden Knox.
Additional Conference USA players are expected to sign free agent deals in the coming days.
CONFERENCE USA 2021 NFL DRAFTEES
Round Overall Player Pos. C-USA School NFL Team
Third 73 Milton Williams DT Louisiana Tech Philadelphia Eagles
Fourth 121 Jordan Smith OLB UAB Jacksonville Jaguars
Fourth 129 Jaelon Darden WR North Texas Tampa Bay Buccaneers
Fourth 138 Josh Ball OT Marshall Dallas Cowboys
-ConferenceUSA.com-
