NIU's Smith Among Five MAC Students Picked In The Sixth Round Of The NFL Draft
NIU'S SMITH SELECTED BY PITTSBURGH IN 6TH ROUND OF 2019 NFL DRAFT
DE Sutton Smith selected by the Pittsburgh Steelers in the 6th round, 175th overall, in the 2019 NFL Draft
Five MAC former students were selected in the sixth round alone of the 2019 NFL Draft -- NIU's Sutton Smith; Toledo's Ka'dar Hollman; Central Michigan's Xavier Crawford; Akron's Ulysees Gilbert and Bowling Green's Scott Miller. This currently brings the MAC total to nine former students selected already in this year's NFL Draft.
Northern Illinois defensive end Sutton Smith was a sixth-round draft choice, 175th overall, by the Pittsburgh Steelers in the NFL Draft on Saturday afternoon. Smith was a first team All-American selection by AP, ESPN, SI.com, CollegeFootballNews.com and a second team choice by Walter Camp, the AFCA, PFF and the FWAA in 2018 and was a consensus All-American in 2017. A native of St. Charles, Mo., Smith was the ninth Huskie to earn the Vern Smith Leadership Award given to the MAC's most valuable player and repeated as the MAC Defensive Player of the year.
Hollman appeared in all 13 games last season for Toledo and added 43 total tackles, 33 solo and one interception. Hollman also added 13 passes defensed, one forced fumble and one recovered fumble for the Rockets defense in 2018.
Crawford played in 11 games last year for Central Michigan and was named All-MAC First Team as he totaled 24 tackles, including 18 solo tackles. Crawford added three tackles for loss, one interception, 13 passes defensed and two recovered fumbles.
Gilbert ranked second on the Akron Zips defense with 85 tackles, including 47 solo, and 7.5 tackles for loss. Gilbert added one sack, two recovered fumbles and one forced fumble. Gilbert was also named All-MAC Second Team honors in 2018.
Miller led the Bowling Green Falcons offense with 71 receptions for 1,148 total yards (16.2 avg.) and nine receiving touchdowns. Miller was named All-MAC Second Team and his 71 receptions and 1,148 yards led the MAC in 2018.
The MAC modern era record for number of selections in an NFL Draft is 11 draft selections, which happened two years ago (2017 NFL Draft) and in the 2005 NFL Draft.
MAC Students Selected In 2019 NFL Draft
2nd round, 39th overall DB Sean Bunting (Central Michigan) by the Tampa Bay Buccaneers
2nd round, 55th overall OT Max Scharping (Northern Illinois) by the Houston Texans
3rd round, 66th overall WR Diontae Johnson (Toledo) by the Pittsburgh Steelers
4th round, 106th overall DE Maxx Crosby (Eastern Michigan) by the Oakland Raiders
6th round, 175th overall DE Sutton Smith (Northern Illinois) by the Pittsburgh Steelers
6th round, 185th overall DB Ka'dar Hollman (Toledo) by the Green Bay Packers
6th round, 195th overall DB Xavier Crawford (Central Michigan) by the Houston Texans
6th round, 207th overall LB Ulysees Gilbert (Akron) by the Pittsburgh Steelers
6th round, 208th overall WR Scott Miller (Bowling Green) by the Tampa Bay Buccaneers
