Ever since National Signing Day on February 6, 2013, Ole Miss fans, players and coaches have anticipated the moment when the pillars of that signing class would take their games to the next level to represent Ole Miss in the NFL.
The moment is now here.
Ole Miss All-Americans Robert Nkemdiche, Laquon Treadwell and Laremy Tunsil are all in Chicago for the 2016 NFL Draft, which gets underway with the first round tonight at 7 p.m. CT (ESPN, WatchESPN, NFL Network).
Those three Rebels have all been projected as first-round selections by draft analysts. Tunsil, a three-year starter at left tackle from Lake City, Florida, is widely considered a top-10 or top-five pick.
Also a three-year starter from Crete, Illinois, Treadwell is the all-time leading pass catcher in Ole Miss history (202 receptions) and the school’s first ever Biletnikoff Award finalist. He is considered by many experts as the top wide receiver in this year’s draft and could be selected anywhere within the top 20 or 25 picks.
Nkemdiche, who hails from Loganville, Georgia, was a force in the middle of the “Landshark” defensive line as a three-year starter who earned All-America honors twice. His size and athleticism allowed him to contribute on offense and special teams, and he became the first defensive lineman to ever be a finalist for the Paul Hornung Award, which goes to the nation’s most versatile player. He is projected to be picked anywhere from the middle of the first round to the second.
The second and third rounds of the draft will take place Friday at 6 p.m. CT (ESPN/ESPN2, WatchESPN, NFL Network), while rounds 4-7 will be Saturday starting at 11 a.m. CT (ESPN, WatchESPN, NFL Network).
Other Rebels who could be drafted this weekend include (but are not limited to) offensive tackle Fahn Cooper, wide receiver Cody Core and safety Trae Elston.
Here are some facts about Ole Miss and its history with the NFL and the NFL Draft.
281 professional draft picks all-time
19 NFL first-round draft picks
27 Pro Bowl players (66 selections)
2 Pro Football Hall of Famers
13 Super Bowl winners (16 titles)
19 former Rebels were on NFL rosters last season
Ole Miss has had multiple first-round picks on two occasions:
2009: Michael Oher (23rd overall, Baltimore), Peria Jerry (24th overall, Atlanta)
1966: Stan Hindman (11th overall, San Francisco), Mike Dennis (Buffalo – AFL)
The school record for most pro draft picks in a year is 15 (1960 and 1962)
Since the draft was reduced to seven rounds in 1994, the Rebels have had four selections on four occasions (1995, 2004, 2009, 2010)
Follow Ole Miss Football on Twitter at @OleMissFB, as well as Facebook and Instagram. For more information, visit www.OleMissSports.com.
Courtesy of Ole Miss Sports
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