Six More Bruins Selected in NFL Draft
April 30, 2016 | Football
UCLA had six players picked on the third day of the NFL Draft which would be the most Bruins taken in a single draft since 2002's total of six selections. Adding in Kenny Clark, the first round pick of the Green Bay Packers, and Myles Jack, the second round choice of the Jacksonville Jaguars, the total of eight players selected in the 2016 Draft are the most by the program since 10 Bruins were chosen in 1988. That group was headlined by first round pick Gaston Green and second round selection Ken Norton. The total of eight players selected in this draft is the most of any Pac-12 school and the most players UCLA has had drafted in the seven round format. It also ranks as the third-most selections of any school in this draft.
The first Bruin selected on Day Three of the 2016 NFL Draft was offensive lineman Caleb Benenoch who was a fifth round choice (#148) of the Tampa Bay Buccaneers. Benenoch started 35 career games at the guard and tackle positions for the Bruins over the past three seasons. The last three seasons, he has helped pave the way for Paul Perkins to rack up over 3,400 yards of rushing yards and move up to third on the all-time school rushing list. In 2015, the Bruin offensive line surrendered just 14 quarterback sacks, the second-lowest total in school history.
Following right behind Benenoch was running back Paul Perkins who was the fifth round choice (#149) of the New York Giants. Perkins, a second-team all-conference pick last season, finished his Bruin career third on the all-time school rushing list (3,491 yards). After leading the Pac-12 in rushing in the 2014 season (1,575 yards), he ranked fourth in the league in 2015 with a total of 1,343 yards, including a career-best 219-yard rushing game against BYU. Perkins' total of 80 career receptions made him the school's all-time leading receiver at the running back position. In 2014, he became the first Bruin to lead the conference in rushing since DeShaun Foster in 2001 and was named the Offensive MVP of the Alamo Bowl. Perkins was the first Bruin to rush for more than 2,000 yards in his initial two seasons (2014 โ 1,575; 2013 โ 573).
Next up was receiver Jordan Payton who was selected in the fifth round (#154) by the Cleveland Browns. Payton concluded his Bruin career as the school's all-time receptions leader and the first to catch over 200 passes. His total of 2,701 receiving yards is third on that all-time school list. The second-team All-Pac-12 pick tied the school mark with 14 receptions in a 2015 game versus Washington State and finished his career with at least one catch in 29 straight games. His total of 78 receptions in 2015 ranks second on the all-time school single season list. Payton also led the team in receptions in 2014 with 67, the sixth-highest total in school history at the time. He made 10 starts in 2013 and ranked third on the squad with 38 catches. Payton made four starts as a freshman in 2012 and hauled in 18 passes on the year.
The fourth Bruin selected on Day 3 was linebacker Aaron Wallace who was chosen in the seventh round (#222) by the Tennessee Titans. He capped off his Bruin career in 2015 with an outstanding season. Wallace led the team with 12.5 tackles for loss which ranked ninth in the Pac-12. His total of 7.0 sacks also topped the team and ranked tied for fourth in the league. Wallace was sixth on the team in total tackles with 65 and registered at least five tackles in seven contests, including a career-high 11 stops at USC. He appeared in all 13 games in both 2014 and 2013, making two starts, and seeing action at both linebacker and on special teams. As a freshman in 2012, he played in 10 games. His dad, Aaron, Sr. was selected by the Oakland Raiders in the 1990 NFL Draft out of Texas A&M.
Receiver Thomas Duarte was picked in the seventh round (#231) by the Miami Dolphins. Duarte, a second-team all-conference selection, caught 53 passes for 872 yards and 10 touchdowns in 2015. His average yards per catch of 16.45 rated as the fourth-best mark in the Pac-12. His total of 10 scoring catches ranked 17th in the nation and tied for fourth on the all-time school list. He finished his career with a reception in each of the last 17 contests and made a career-best 10 catches for 141 yards in a game against Cal. In 2014, Duarte led the Pac-12 with an average yards per catch mark of 19.29. In 2013, he matched the school freshman record with three scoring receptions.
Receiver Devin Fuller capped off the busy day after being selected by the Atlanta Falcons in the seventh round (#238). Fuller completed his Bruin career tied for sixth on the all-time school career receptions list with 146 catches. His total of 59 in the 2014 season was the 11th best in school history. In 2015, he also emerged as one of the top return men in the Pac-12 conference, ranking sixth in the league in kickoff returns (24.2 avg.) His total of 194 return yards in a game against BYU was one of the best yardage days in the league. Fuller's 93-yard scoring reception against Utah in 2014 was tied for the second-longest in school history. In 2013, he ranked second on the team with 43 receptions. In 2012, he made a school freshman record seven catches in the Pac-12 Championship Game.
