Five Razorbacks selected in 2015 NFL Draft
The first two days of the 2015 NFL Draft came and went without any fanfare for several Arkansas Razorback players, but on Saturday five former Hogs heard their name called.
The first Hog off the board was defensive end Trey Flowers selected by the New England Patriots with the second pick of the fourth round. Flowers, 6’2”, 266 pounds, was a two-time Second-Team All-SEC selection in 2013 and 2014. He led the Razorbacks in sacks with six and tackles for a loss with 15.5 during his senior season.
Flowers landed in the draft just about where he was predicted to fall, somewhere in the third or fourth round. The Alabama native is considered a technically strong end but not a speedy pass rush guy running a 4.93 at the NFL Combine but bounced back to run a 4.83 and a 4.87 during his Pro Day.
The next Hog selected was All-SEC linebacker Martrell Spaight. Spaight was taken off the board in the fifth round by the Washington Redskins.
Spaight is an excellent run-stop linebacker leading the SEC in tackles in 2014 with 128. The former First-Team NJCAA All-American has the size, 6’0”, 236 pounds, to be an NFL linebacker but must improve his speed and coverage skills. At the NFL Combine Spaight ran a 4.88 forty-yard dash but improved his time during his Pro Day running a 4.80 and a 4.83.
A surprise selection in the draft was cornerback Tevin Mitchel. Mitchel was taken with the sixth pick in the sixth round joining Spaight as a new member of the Washington Redskins.
Mitchel, 6’0”, 190 pounds, was not invited to the NFL Combine in Indianapolis but impressed scouts enough playing the nickel position at Arkansas to earn a selection.
Mitchel has a ton of talent playing in 43 games during his four years at Arkansas but also missed a lot of field time with various injuries. He is quick and has great cover skills typically lining up against opposing team’s slot receivers.
Arkansas’ lone early NFL draft entry was defensive tackle Darius Philon. The San Diego Chargers selected Philon in the sixth round with the 16th pick.
With the Razorbacks Philon was a highly productive undersized tackle using his quickness to get up field. Listed at 6’1”, 298 pounds, Philon is not the prototypical NFL tackle in size but showed his ability to rush the passer from the tackle spot recording 4.5 sacks and 11.5 tackles for a loss during his redshirt junior season.
During the NFL Combine Philon ran a 5-flat 40-yard dash. At the Arkansas Razorbacks Pro Day he improved his initial time running a 4.89.
The fifth Razorback to hear his name called was former quarterback turned tight end A.J. Derby. The former Iowa Hawkeye-Coffeyville C.C. talent was selected by the New England Patriots in the sixth round.
Derby is just scratching the surface of his athleticism on the field. Out of high school and junior college the Iowa native continued to play quarterback even though many felt his best position would be at linebacker or tight end. After a couple of rough games under center for the Hogs during his junior season, Arkansas head coach Bret Bielema moved the 6’4”, 255 pound, athlete to tight end in the spring of 2014. Derby quickly showed his athleticism making circus catches and showing great concentration on off-target passes.
As the 2014 season played out Derby’s ability as a run and pass blocker began to come through making him an every down tight end. He missed running at the NFL Combine still suffering from a knee injury that kept him out of the Hogs’ final two games of the 2014 season but was able to run during his Pro Day posting 40-yard dash times of 4.69 and 4.75.
Arkansas Free Agent Signees
Wide receiver Demetrious Wilson – San Diego Chargers
Offensive tackle Brey Cook – Washington Redskins
Written by Ryan Wright
Photo credit: buffalorumblings.com; No. 86 Trey Flowers vs. Ole Miss