SEC, mainly Alabama, dominates in NFL draft
From beginning to end, much like the first night, the second round of the NFL draft was all about the SEC.
And naturally, Alabama was a major place to go.
Georgia cornerback Tyson Campbell to Jacksonville and Mississippi wide receiver Elijah Moore to the Jets were the top two selections Friday night.
Finishing off the second round, it was Florida’s Kyle Trask, the only quarterback taken – and he headed southwest to Tampa where Trask could wind up as Tom Brady’s heir.
Trask was the sixth quarterback taken thus far. He finished fourth in the Heisman voting after a record-breaking season with the Gators.
Two more members of the national champion Crimson Tide went early: offensive lineman Landon Dickerson and defensive tackle Christian Barmore, the MVP on that side of the ball in the national title game in January.
A dozen SEC players were chosen in the opening round, a record-tying six from ‘Bama. Then four of the first six guys to go in the second round were from that conference. By round’s end, 22 SEC players had been selected.
Campbell, a three-year starter, saw Bulldogs teammate Eric Stokes chosen in the first round by Green Bay. Campbell led Georgia with five pass breakups in 10 starts last season. He also had 29 tackles, including 2½ for loss.
He has no qualms about switching to safety if asked.
“I’m versatile and I could learn a new position,” Campbell said. “I trust my feet, trust my hips. I feel like I can run with anybody.”
Moore’s breakout season lifted him to All-America status – and now to a potential regular target for Zach Wilson, the second overall pick. The explosive Moore set a school record with 86 catches for 1,193 yards in 2020.
“Oh, man … he’s got a great arm,” he said of Wilson. “Get ready to catch a lot of touchdowns.”
Not everyone went to SEC schools at the outset of the second round. North Carolina running back Javonte Williams is headed to Denver after the Broncos traded up to the third spot with Atlanta.
First night of NFL draft outdraws Oscars by over 2 million
CLEVELAND – And the winner is … the NFL draft.
Thursday’s broadcast of the first round from Cleveland averaged 12.6 million viewers on television and digital sources according to the NFL and Nielsen. That is the second-highest first day on record, surpassing 2014 (12.4 million). Last year’s first round holds the record at 15.5 million.
The draft ended up having a larger audience than the April 25 Academy Awards (10.4 million) and also outdrew all but one game of last year’s World Series.