A look at the Longhorns defensive backs that have been taken in the NFL Draft
It’s only natural that a school that considers itself “DBU” would have a long list of defensive backs taken in the NFL Draft through the years. Texas defensive backs have not only been constant selections to play in the NFL; many of those Longhorns have gone on to have standout careers at the highest level of the game.
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Texas could add to its draft tradition in this year’s Draft, with cornerback D’Shawn Jamison and safety Anthony Cook potentially third-day selections in the proceedings, which begin on Thursday in Kansas City.
Jamison, who goes at 5-foot-10 and 187 pounds, played in 60 career games over his five years at Texas with 39 starts, finishing with 139 tackles (109 of them solo), six tackles for a loss, a sack, six interceptions, 23 passes defended, a forced fumble, two fumble recoveries and a blocked punt. Jamison ranks fourth all-time in Longhorns’ history in career kick returns (54) and kick return yards (1,435).
Cook, a 6-foot-1, 188-pounder, also played in 60 games over five seasons in Austin, amassing a career-high 61 tackles (35 solo), 3.5 tackles for loss and five pass breakups with half a sack and one forced fumble in his super senior year. He was named honorable mention All-Big 12 by the league’s coaches after the 2022 season.
With this year’s NFL Draft beginning on Thursday, we decided to take a look at the list of defensive backs that have been selected to play in the NFL through the years.
The list includes Ronnie Ehrig, who was drafted in 1968 in the 15th round by the AFL’s New York Jets but opted to go back to school for another year, after which he was selected in the 14th round by the Chicago Bears.
The roster below also lists Marty Akins as chosen as a defensive back by the St. Louis Cardinals in 1975. Akins was an All-America wishbone quarterback during his career at Texas.
National award winners among the Texas defensive backs that were drafted in the NFL are Michael Huff and Aaron Ross, who won the Jim Thorpe Award in 2005 and 2006, respectively.
In all, 55 Longhorns defensive backs have been selected in the draft, with 26 of those since 1990. Fourteen of defensive backs have been taken in the first round.
Player-Year-Round-Pick-Overall-Team
Jackie Crain-1942-17-4-154-Chicago Cardinals
Tom Landry-1947-20-9-184-New York Giants
Max Bumgardner-1948-1-10-10-Chicago Bears
Bobby Dillon-1952-3-3-28-Green Bay Packers
Don Menasco-1952-4-10-47-New York Giants
Edward Kelley-1955-5-6-55-Los Angeles Rams
Ronnie Ehrig-1968-15-17-398-New York Jets
Bill Bradley-1969-3-17-69-Philadelphia Eagles
Ronnie Ehrig-1969-14-15-353-Chicago Bears
Danny Lester-1971-13-5-317-Philadelphia Eagles
Player-Year-Round-Pick-Overall-Team
Alan Lowry-1973-13-4-316-New England Patriots
Marty Akins-1975-11-34-315-St. Louis Cardinals
Raymond Clayborn-1977-1-16-16-New England Patriots
Glen Blackwood-1979-8-23-215-Miami Dolphins
Johnnie Johnson-1980-1-17-17-Los Angeles Rams
Derrick Hatchett-1980-1-24-24-Baltimore Colts
Ricky Churchman-1980-4-1-84-San Francisco 49ers
Charles Vaclavik-1980-12-1-306-Pittsburgh Steelers
Vance Bedford-1982-5-8-119-St. Louis Cardinals
William Graham-1982-5-16-127-Detroit Lions
Player-Year-Round-Pick-Overall-Team
Mike Hatchett-1982-9-7-230-Chicago Bears
Mossy Cade-1984-1-6-6-Green Bay Packers
Fred Acorn-1984-3-1-57-Tampa Bay Buccaneers
Craig Curry-1984-4-9-93-Indianapolis Colts
Jitter Fields-1984-5-11-123-New Orleans Saints
Jerry Gray-1985-1-21-21-Los Angeles Rams
Stephen Braggs-1987-6-25-165-Cleveland Browns
Eric Jeffries-1987-12-26-333-Chicago Bears
John Hagy-1988-8-11-204-Buffalo Bills
Stanley Richard-1991-1-9-9-San Diego Chargers
Player-Year-Round-Pick-Overall-Team
Mark Berry-1992-6-21-161-Chicago Bears
Lance Gunn-1993-7-7-175-Cincinnati Bengals
Van Malone-1994-2-28-57-Detroit Lions
Bryant Westbrook-1997-1-5-5-Detroit Lions
Chris Carter-1997-3-29-89-New England Patriots
Taje Allen-1997-5-28-158-St. Louis Rams
Quentin Jammer-2002-1-5-5-San Diego Chargers
Rod Babers-2003-4-26-123-New York Giants
Nathan Vasher-2004-4-14-110-Chicago Bears
Michael Huff-2006-1-7-7-Oakland Raiders
Player-Year-Round-Pick-Overall-Team
Cedric Griffin-2006-2-16-48-Minnesota Vikings
Michael Griffin-2007-1-19-19-Tennessee Titans
Aaron Ross-2007-1-20-20-New York Giants
Tarell Brown-2007-5-10-147-San Francisco 49ers
Earl Thomas-2010-1-14-14-Seattle Seahawks
Aaron Williams-2011-2-2-34-Buffalo Bills
Curtis Brown-2011-3-31-95-Pittsburgh Steelers
Chykie Brown-2011-5-33-164-Baltimore Ravens
Kenny Vaccaro-2013-1-15-15-New Orleans Saints
Mykkele Thompson-2015-5-8-144-New York Giants
Player-Year-Round-Pick-Overall-Team
Quandre Diggs-2015-6-24-200-Detroit Lions
DeShon Elliott-2018-6-16-190-Baltimore Ravens
Kris Boyd-2019-7-3-217-Minnesota Vikings
Brandon Jones-2020-3-6-70-Miami Dolphins
Caden Sterns-2021-5-8-152-Denver Broncos
