NEW YORK — For the second time in as many years, two LSU football players were taken in the first round of the NFL Draft. On Thursday night at Radio City Music Hall, defensive end Barkevious Mingo was the sixth overall pick by the Cleveland Browns and safety Eric Reid was the 18th pick by the San Francisco 49ers.
Watch Video via NFL.com
Mingo, a 6-foot-5 junior defensive end from West Monroe, La., gave the Tigers the No. 6 pick for the second-straight year – Morris Claiborne was Dallas’ first-round pick last year at No. 6.
“It was just an exciting moment,” Mingo said after his selection. “It snuck up on me. I can’t wait to get to Cleveland. It is such a loyal fan base with hard-working people. They love their Browns – rain, sleet or snow. I am focused on the next chapter in my life and ready to get to work.
“The past week has been one to remember, especially having my family here. I would like to thank all of the LSU Tiger fans who cheered me on the last three years. I am very thankful. I’ll never forget the crowd noise and everything about ‘Death Valley’. Going to LSU helped me reach my dreams of playing in the NFL.”
The 49ers traded up 13 slots in the first round to grab Reid, a 6-2 junior safety from Geismar, La., who became the fifth LSU underclassman in the past three drafts combined to be selected in the first round.
“I am ecstatic to be a 49er,” Reid said. “It’s a privilege to go to an organization as well respected as San Francisco. It’s definitely a dream come true. When I met with Coach (Jim) Harbaugh at the (NFL) Combine, he was very confident in my knowledge of the game. We chit-chatted after that. I want to be a jack-of-all trades at the next level. Whether that is covering the slot or blitzing, I am willing to do whatever coach wants me to do. When I think of the 49ers, I think of great players. I have followed them for a long time.”
LSU has 37 first-round NFL draft picks, and 12 under coach Les Miles since 2005. Since 2004, LSU has had a first-round pick in all but one draft.
As many as 14 LSU players may be drafted in 2013 including Mingo and Reid, who were invited to New York City for the draft.
Running backs Spencer Ware and Michael Ford, defensive tackle Bennie Logan, defensive ends Sam Montgomery and Lavar Edwards, cornerbacks Tharold Simon and Tyrann Mathieu, linebacker Kevin Minter, offensive tackle Chris Faulk, center P.J. Lonergan, wide receiver Russell Shepard and punter Brad Wing are among those who may hear their name over the three-day, seven-round draft.
The LSU record for players taken in a single draft is eight, which was set in 1948. Twice under Miles, in 2006 and 2008, LSU has had seven players selected. Tennessee holds the SEC mark for number of players taken in the modern era of the draft with 10, while Ohio State has the national mark of 14.
Miles made his first appearance on the NFL Network on Thursday afternoon. He was joined for the roundtable discussion by Notre Dame head coach Brian Kelly, Texas A&M head coach Kevin Sumlin and Stanford head coach David Shaw.
On Friday, Miles will be on the NFL Network set at 4:45 p.m. CT to preview the second and third rounds of the draft with host Rich Eisen. Miles will have a two-hour segment from noon to 2 p.m. CT on Saturday as he will join Eisen, Charles Davis and Mike Mayock on the NFL Network set.
Check back throughout the night for updates, or join the conversation below or on www.Facebook.com/LSUfootball.
2013 NFL Draft – First Round (in progress)
1. Kansas City – Eric Fisher, OT, Central Michigan
2. Jacksonville – Luke Joeckel, OT, Texas A&M
3. Miami (from Oakland) – Dion Jordan, DE, Oregon
4. Philadelphia – Lane Johnson, OT, Oklahoma
5. Detroit – Ezekiel Ansah, DE, BYU
6. Cleveland – Barkevious Mingo, DE, LSU
7. Arizona – Jonathan Cooper, OG, North Carolina
8. St. Louis (from Buffalo) – Tavon Austin, WR, West Virginia
9. NY Jets – Dee Milliner, CB, Alabama
10. Tennessee – Chance Warmack, OG, Alabama
11. San Diego – D.J. Fluker, OT, Alabama
12. Oakland (from Miami) – D.J. Hayden, CB, Houston
13. NY Jets (from Tampa Bay) – Sheldon Richardson, DT, Missouri
14. Carolina – Star Lotulelei, DT, Utah
15. New Orleans – Kenny Vaccaro, DB, Texas
16. Buffalo (from St. Louis) – EJ Manuel, QB, Florida St.
17. Pittsburgh – Jarvis Jones, LB, Georgia
18. San Francisco (from Dallas) – Eric Reid, S, LSU
19. NY Giants – Justin Pugh, OG, Syracuse
20. Chicago – Kyle Long, OG, Oregon
21. Cincinnati – Tyler Eifert, TE, Notre Dame
22. Atlanta (from St. Louis via Washington) – Desmond Trufant, CB, Washington
23. Minnesota – Sharrif Floyd, DT, Florida
24. Indianapolis – Bjoern Werner, DE, Florida St.
25. Minnesota (from Seattle) – Xavier Rhodes, CB, Florida St.
26. Green Bay – Datone Jones, DE, UCLA
27. Houston – DeAndre Hopkins, WR, Clemson
28. Denver – Sylvester Williams, DT, North Carolina
29. Minnesota (from New England) – Cordarrelle Patterson, WR, Tennessee
30. St. Louis (from Atlanta) – Alec Ogletree, LB, Georgia
31. Dallas (from San Francisco) – Travis Frederick, C, Wisconsin
32. Baltimore – Matt Elam, S, Florida