Roberts, Ayers help give UH best representation since ’97
The University of Houston had its best NFL draft in nearly two decades with two more players taken on the final day.
Linebacker Elandon Roberts was picked in the sixth round by New England, and wide receiver Demarcus Ayers was selected in the seventh round by Pittsburgh.
Those two plus cornerback William Jackson III, a first-round pick by Cincinnati, gave UH its best draft representation since four Cougars were picked in 1997.
“It’s testimony, it’s proof that you come to the University of Houston and if you’ve got somewhat of the ability then you are going to be developed into an NFL player,” UH coach Tom Herman said Saturday.
Roberts, who played at Port Arthur Memorial, positioned himself to be a late-round pick by posting 142 tackles — including a nation-best 88 solo — six sacks and 19 tackles for loss in his only season as a starter.
“The New England Patriots just got the best inside linebacker in the draft,” said Roberts, the No. 214 overall selection.
The 6-foot, 235-pound Roberts had a career-high 18 tackles in a comeback win over Memphis and helped limit Florida State running back Dalvin Cook to a season-low 33 rushing yards.
After opting to bypass his senior season, Ayers called being taken by the Steelers with the No. 229 overall pick “the best day of my life.”
“I’ve waited my whole life for this,” he said.
Ayers choose to skip his final season after a breakout junior year that included a career-high 98 receptions for 1,222 yards and six touchdowns.
Ayers said the decision to leave school early was primarily for family reasons following the death of his brother prior to last season. He suffered a hand injury during pre-draft training, which contributed to an uncharacteristically slow 4.72-second time in the 40-yard dash at the NFL combine. He ran between a 4.58 and 4.60 at UH’s pro day.
UT’s Ridgeway taken by Colts
Hassan Ridgeway had to wait longer than he’d hoped, but he’s headed to the NFL.
The Indianapolis Colts selected the Texas defensive tackle in the fourth round of the NFL draft, with the 116th overall selection. When Ridgeway decided to forgo his senior season at UT and enter the draft early, he said he’d received a second-round grade from the NFL’s college advisory committee.
Ridgeway, a 6-3, 303-pound former Mansfield standout, is the second consecutive defensive tackle to become UT’s top draft pick. Last year, tackle Malcom Brown went in the first round to New England.
Benenoch heads to Tampa Bay
Caleb Benenoch left Katy three years ago to earn an education on the West Coast, and now he’s headed to the other side of the country to earn money playing football.
The Tampa Bay Buccaneers made Benenoch, an offensive lineman from Seven Lakes High and UCLA, the 148th selection overall in the fifth round.
Benenoch, who had a year of eligibility remaining at UCLA, was one of six Bruins who declared early for the draft. A model of consistency, Benenoch led all current Bruins with 35 consecutive starts.
Washington goes in fifth round
Running back DeAndre Washington grew up a Texans fan — now he’ll try to beat the Texans as a member of the Oakland Raiders.
The Raiders selected Washington, a Marshall High graduate out of Missouri City, in the fifth round (143th overall). Washington (5-8, 204) rushed for 3,411 career yards and 23 touchdowns for Texas Tech, in averaging 5.6 yards per carry.
Odds and ends
Injuries held back running back Daniel Lasco of The Woodlands during his senior season at California, but he’s still going to earn a shot in the NFL.
The New Orleans Saints selected Lasco (6-1, 205) in the seventh round of Saturday’s NFL draft (237th overall). …
TCU center Joey Hunt, an El Campo product, was picked by the Seattle Seahawks in the sixth round (No. 215 overall). …
Texas A&M punter Drew Kaser was taken by San Diego in the sixth round (179th overall). …
Sam Houston State punter Lachlan Edwards was picked by the Jets in the seventh round.