Several NC players taken on NFL Draft Day 2
Posted April 27, 2018 8:55 p.m. EDT
Updated July 13, 2018 11:12 a.m. EDT
A pair of defensive backs were the first two local athletes selected in the second round of the NFL Draft Friday, after 20 selections came and went without a player from a NC school getting picked.
University of North Carolina cornerback MJ Stewart was the first Triangle pick of the night, going No. 53 overall to the Tampa Bay Buccaneers.
At 5-foot-11, 200 pounds, Stewart finished as the Tar Heels' career record holder with 41 career pass breakups, breaking the mark of 40 set by Robert Williams (1995-97).
The Arlington, Va. native started all 12 games his senior season (2017) and tallied 45 tackles, 5.0 tackles for loss, two sacks, two quarterback hurries and 12 pass breakups. Stewart also returned 15 punts, averaging more than 11 yards per return in the season.
The Bucs finished the 2017 season 5-11, it was their tenth consecutive season without a playoff appearance
Wake Forest safety Jessie Bates was the very next player selected, No. 54 overall, taken by the Cincinnati Bengals.
The 6-foot-1, 200 lbs Fort Wayne, Indiana native redshirted his first year in Winston-Salem, then was a consensus Freshman All-American and the ACC runner-up defensive rookie of the year behind Clemson's Dexter Lawrence.
As a sophomore, he had 79 tackles, six for loss, one interception and five pass breakups in 11 starts (missing two games with injury).
The Bengals went 7-9 last season.
North Carolina native Harold Landry (Boston College via Pine Forest High School) went 40th overall to the Tennessee Titans. Tarboro native Tyquan Smith (Ohio State) also went in the second round to the Indianapolis Colts.
Third Round Picks
NC A&T offensive tackle Brandon Parker was the first pick of the third round (No. 65 overall). The 6-foot-8, 305-pound offensive lineman was selected by the Oakland Raiders.
NC State defensive tackle BJ Hill was the second member of the Wolfpack taken in this year's draft. The 6-foot-3, 303-pound Oakboro, NC-native was the fifth selection of the third round, going 69th overall to the New York Giants.
Hill played four years in Raleigh, finishing his first season as Defensive Freshman of the Year after playing in 12 games and starting five of the last six, making 37 tackles, 7.5 for loss. As a sophomore, Hill shared the most outstanding defensive lineman award, posting 51 stops, 11 for loss, and 3.5 sacks while starting all 13 games.
Hill's junior numbers weren't as strong as his they were in his second season (39 tackles, 2.5 for loss, one sack, and three pass break-ups), but he finished his career being named honorable mention All-ACC after starting all 13 games, making 57 tackles, 5.5 for loss, three sacks while breaking up three passes as a senior.
Fellow Pack defensive lineman Justin Jones went 84th overall to the LA Chargers.
