Lions announce rookie signings of six former SEC players, reveal jersey numbers
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Detroit Lions general manager Bob Quinn must be a big fan of the football played in the Southeastern Conference. How else do you explain him using four of his eight selections in the 2017 NFL Draft on players from the conference?
The Lions doubled up on Gators to start the draft, selecting linebacker Jarrad Davis in Round 1 and cornerback Jalen Tabor in Round 2 before selecting former Tennessee linebacker Jalen Reeves-Maybin in Round 4 and former Arkansas lineman Jeremiah Ledbetter in Round 6.
If that wasn’t enough evidence, Quinn went back to the SEC well and signed two undrafted free agents from the SEC to the Lions’ offseason roster — former Mississippi State defensive lineman Nick James and former Auburn defensive lineman Maurice Swain. The team will now have six total rookies from the SEC competing to earn a spot on the team’s final 53-man roster for the upcoming regular season.
Friday, the team announced the signing of every single draft pick, as well as its undrafted free agents. The Lions also revealed the jersey numbers for each former SEC player.
Here are the first NFL jersey numbers for the Detroit rookies:
- Jarrad Davis #40
- Jalen Tabor #30
- Jalen Reeves-Maybin #44
- Jeremiah Ledbetter #98
- Nick James #62
- Maurice Swain #67
A graduate of the University of Tennessee, Michael Wayne Bratton oversees the news coverage for Saturday Down South. Michael previously worked for FOX Sports and NFL.com
