Second round recap: How the SEC fared in NFL draft
Alabama won the national championship — with just one first-rounder in the 2016 NFL draft.
The second round started Friday night, and the Tide players still in Chicago waited awhile longer.
Finally, linebacker Reggie Ragland was selected, No. 41 overall, going to the Buffalo Bills. That started a flurry of five Tide players coming off the board.
Here’s a look at the SEC’s second-round picks:
- No. 35 Hunter Henry, tight end, Arkansas (San Diego Chargers)
- No. 37 Chris Jones, defensive tackle, Mississippi State (Kansas City Chiefs)
- No. 41 Reggie Ragland, linebacker, Alabama (Buffalo Bills)
- No. 45 Derrick Henry, running back, Alabama (Tennessee Titans)
- No. 46 A’Shawn Robinson, defensive tackle, Alabama (Detroit Lions)
- No. 49 Jarran Reed, defensive tackle, Alabama (Seattle Seahawks)
- No. 52 Deion Jones, linebacker, LSU (Atlanta Falcons)
- No. 60 Cyrus Jones, cornerback, Alabama (New England Patriots)
SEC retains overall lead
The SEC, which led the way with eight first-round picks, padded its lead after the second round.
The breakdown after two rounds:
- SEC: 16
- Big Ten: 13
- ACC: 10
- Big 12: 7
- Pac-12: 6
- Ind.: 4
- FCS: 3
- AAC: 2
- C-USA: 1
- MWC: 1
Final Four breakdown
National champion Alabama had six players selected, five in the second round. Clemson had four players taken in the first two rounds.
Playoff semifinalists Michigan State and Oklahoma each had just one player selected in the first two rounds.
Offense vs. defense
Sixteen of the 31 first-round picks were defensive players, even though the top two were quarterbacks Jared Goff and Carson Wentz.
Defense dominated the second round even more, adding 22 more selections.
18 defensive linemen in the first 48 picks, including a boat load from the SEC. #NFLDraft2016
— Christopher Smith (@csmithSDS) April 30, 2016
Notable night on social media
.@cjonesmsu96 is highest drafted Bulldog since @_bigplayslay23 No. 36 overall in 2013. #FromStateToSundays #NFLDraft pic.twitter.com/yxP7fRabe9
— MSU Football (@HailStateFB) April 29, 2016
VIDEO | @cjonesmsu96 knows how to make an #NFLDraft entrance with @nflcommish #FromStateToSundays #HailState ?? pic.twitter.com/b0HdO7yHXg
— MSU Football (@HailStateFB) April 30, 2016
Derrick Henry joined Marcus Mariota in Tennessee’s backfield.
"It's a Heisman Trophy backfield!"
That @Titans offense… ? #NFLDraft https://t.co/DuPjKEmbOT
— NFL (@NFL) April 30, 2016
"I'm telling you, I'm ready to go. It's on."
Jarran Reed gets that @Seahawks call! #NFLDraft pic.twitter.com/AcpRJWs0S9
— NFL (@NFL) April 30, 2016
https://twitter.com/NFL/status/726212776180387843
Linebacker Deion Jones was the first LSU player taken, going in the second round to Atlanta.
Debo just got the call. Watch it: #LSU pic.twitter.com/12fDoyeQ6C
— Ross Dellenger (@RossDellenger) April 30, 2016