NEW YORK – For the first time since the NFL’s merger in 1970, a single college football program produced the first defensive back selected in consecutive drafts as LSU cornerback Morris Claiborne was taken sixth overall by the Dallas Cowboys in the first round of the 2012 NFL Draft on Thursday night in Radio City Music Hall.
In addition, defensive tackle Michael Brockers was a first round draft choice as he went 14th overall to the St. Louis Rams. It’s the first time since 1951 that LSU football has produced multiple first round defensive picks. Overall, it’s the fifth time in school history that the Tigers have landed multiple first round draft choices.
A trio of top-10 trades gave Claiborne, a Shreveport native, a chance to play three hours from his hometown in Arlington’s Cowboys Stadium. Minutes before he was selected, Dallas received the sixth pick from the Washington Redskins. Claiborne, sitting in the green room with his family, then got the phone call from owner Jerry Jones, who called him “the best defensive player in the draft.”
“They sacrificed a lot to come down to get me, but I feel like I’m worth it,” Claiborne said. “I know my talents. I know I what I’m able to do and I feel like I can come in right away and get with the team, learn the system and compete. It’s a dream come true.”
Claiborne will join former LSU standouts Marcus Spears, Nate Livings and Danny McCray in Dallas. Claiborne is now part of a lengthy list of Tiger defensive backs who were first round draft picks under head coach Les Miles. Last season, Patrick Peterson was the first defensive back taken when he went fifth overall to the Arizona Cardinals. Peterson went on to make the Pro Bowl in his rookie season.
“I couldn’t be happier for Mo,” said Miles, who was on hand in New York. “He’s very deserving of this. He’s a guy that will work long and hard to be the best professional football player that he can be. It also makes me very happy that he went to the Dallas Cowboys. He’s going to look great wearing the star.”
With Brockers’ selection, it’s the fifth consecutive year that LSU has had a defensive linemen chosen in the draft. He’s also the fourth Tiger defensive lineman to be drafted in the first round since 2005. The 6-foot-5, 322-pound Brockers has tremendous upside and versatility. He will join a Rams squad coach by first-year coach Jeff Fisher.
Miles was on the set of the NFL Network’s coverage on Thursday and he joined Claiborne and Brockers in the green room for their selections. Under Miles, LSU has now produced 10 first round draft picks dating back to 2006. Overall since 2006, the Tigers continue to lead the SEC in NFL draft choices with 39 under Miles.
The Southeastern Conference overall had nine players selected in the first round. The SEC record for most players taken in the first round was 11, set in 2007. The nine is third highest also behind last season’s 10.
Safety Brandon Taylor and wide receiver Rueben Randle can expect to have their names called on Friday when rounds two and three of the 2012 NFL Draft get underway at 6 p.m. CT. ESPN, the NFL Network and NFL.com will all resume coverage.
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NFL Draft Night Facts
- LSU defensive coordinator John Chavis has coached the last three top defensive backs selected in the NFL Draft: Morris Claiborne (2012), Patrick Peterson (2011), Eric Berry (2010 – Tennessee)
- It’s the first time since 1951 that LSU produced multiple first round defensive selections. In 1951, Kenny Konz was selected by Cleveland and Ebert Van Buren went to Philadelphia both in the top 15.
- Overall, it’s the fifth time that the Tigers have produced multiple first round draft picks and the first since 2007 when four were taken. The others years were 1951, ’60 and ’62.
- Claiborne became the fifth LSU player selected by the Dallas Cowboys since 2003, joining a list that has included Bradie James (2003), Stephen Peterman (2004), Marcus Spears (2005) and Skyler Green (2006).
- Brockers is the first LSU player selected by the St. Louis Rams since Claude Wroten was taken in the third round in 2006. Brockers is the first LSU first-round choice by the Rams since Eddie Kennison went 18th overall in 1996.
- LSUDBU? With Claiborne’s selection, LSU has now produced an NFL defensive back draft choice for six consecutive seasons. In six of the seven drafts under Les Miles, LSU has had at least one defensive player selected
2012 NFL Draft Order
Pick, Player, Pos, Team
1 Colts, Andrew Luck, QB, Stanford
2 Redskins (From Rams), Robert Griffin III, QB, Baylor
3 Browns (From Vikings), Trent Richardson, RB, Alabama
4 Vikings (From Browns), Matt Kalil, OT, USC
5 Jaguars (From Buccaneers), Justin Blackmon, WR, Oklahoma St.
6 Cowboys (From Redskins through Rams), Morris Claiborne, CB, LSU
7 Buccaneers (From Jaguars), Mark Barron, SS, Alabama
8 Dolphins, Ryan Tannehill, QB, Texas A&M
9 Panthers, Luke Kuechly, ILB, Boston College
10 Bills, Stephon Gilmore, CB, South Carolina
11 Chiefs, Dontari Poe, DT, Memphis
12 Eagles (From Seahawks), Fletcher Cox, DT, Mississippi St.
13 Cardinals, Michael Floyd, WR, Notre Dame
14 Rams (From Cowboys), Michael Brockers, DT, LSU
15 Seahawks (From Eagles), Bruce Irvin, DE, West Virginia
16 Jets, Quinton Coples, DE, North Carolina
17 Bengals (From Raiders), Dre Kirkpatrick, CB, Alabama
18 Chargers, Melvin Ingram, DE, South Carolina
19 Bears, Shea McClellin, DE, Boise St.
20 Titans, Kendall Wright, WR, Baylor
21 Patriots (From Bengals), Chandler Jones, DE, Syracuse
22 Browns (From Falcons), Brandon Weeden, QB, Oklahoma St.
23 Lions, Riley Reiff, OT, Iowa
24 Steelers, David DeCastro, G, Stanford
25 Patriots (From Broncos), Dont’a Hightower, ILB, Alabama
26 Texans, Whitney Mercilus, DE, Illinois
27 Bengals (From Saints through Patriots), Kevin Zeitler, G, Wisconsin
28 Packers, Nick Perry, DE, USC
29 Vikings (From Ravens), Harrison Smith, FS, Notre Dame
30 49ers, A.J. Jenkins, WR, Illinois
31 Buccaneers (From Patriots through Broncos), Doug Martin, RB, Boise St.
32 Giants, David Wilson, RB, Virginia Tech