UNT 2019 NFL Draft Recap

Harry · April 28, 2019

Five Mean Green Players Agree to Terms With NFL Teams

DENTON - Five Mean Green players agreed to terms with NFL teams as free agents Saturday night. Linebacker E.J. Ejiya agreed with the Baltimore Ravens, while wide receiver Jalen Guyton (Dallas Cowboys), cornerback Nate Brooks (Green Bay Packers), cornerback Kemon Hall (Los Angeles Chargers) and defensive lineman Roderick Young (Jacksonville Jaguars) also agreed on free agent deals.

Ejiya leaves Denton second in program history in career tackles for loss (40.5) and is the program leader in single season tackles for loss (25.0 in 2018). He was a first team All-Conference USA selection in 2018 and led the team in tackles with 121 (60 solo) with team highs in tackles for loss – his 25.0 ranked fourth in the nation, sacks (9.0) to go along with a forced fumble, a fumble recovery, a blocked extra point and 11 quarterback hurries in 13 appearances, all of which were starts. The Blaine, Minnesota, native also led the Mean Green in tackles in 2017 with 109 and added 12.0 tackles for loss and seven sacks as a redshirt junior in 14 appearances on his way to all-conference honorable mention status. Ejiya was a member of the team's leadership council in 2018 and will follow in the footsteps of another former Mean Green linebacker - Zach Orr. Orr, also an undrafted free agent, was a second team Associated Press All Pro selection in 2016 with the Ravens and spent three seasons in Baltimore before retiring due to injury ahead of the 2017 season.

Guyton finished his North Texas career in a tie for eighth in career receiving touchdowns (15) and posted six career 100-yard receiving games, which is tied for seventh-most in program history. His redshirt junior season in 2018 saw the Allen, Texas, native haul in 54 passes for 805 yards with six touchdowns in 13 appearances for the Mean Green. A member of the team's leadership council in both seasons in Denton, Guyton was named Conference USA co-Newcomer of the Year and was a second team all-conference selection in 2017 when he had 49 catches for 775 yards and nine touchdowns. Guyton will join another former Mean Green player, fullback Jamize Olawale, when he gets to Frisco to join the Cowboys.

Brooks concluded his North Texas career with his best statistical season in 2018, posting a team high six interceptions, which ranked third in the Football Bowl Subdivision. He added 67 tackles and 10 pass break-ups in 13 appearances, all starts. The Whitehouse, Texas, native was a semifinalist for the Paycom Jim Thorpe Award and was named second team all-conference in his senior season. Brooks picked off 10 passes in his career for the Mean Green, four of which came as a sophomore in 2016 when he was also named an all-conference honorable mention selection.

Hall was a first team all-conference selection in 2018 after finishing with 48 tackles (39 solo), five interceptions (which ranked 10^th nationally) and 14 pass break-ups in 11 appearances, all of which were starts. Hall brought two interceptions back for touchdowns and ranked third in the country in passes defended at 1.7 per game. A member of the team's leadership council as a senior, the Calhoun City, Mississippi, native made 72 stops during his first season in Denton in 2017 to go along with an interception, eight pass break-ups and a forced fumble in 14 appearances, all starts.

Young finished his senior season with 30 tackles from his defensive end position. The Spring, Texas, native posted six tackles for loss and three sacks in 13 appearances in 2018 for the Mean Green, 12 of which were starts. Young posted 48 tackles in 2017 with 6.5 tackles for loss, two sacks and eight quarterback hurries in 14 starts for the Mean Green on his way to earning honorable mention all-conference plaudits. In all, Young appeared in 51 games across his four seasons in Denton, showing his versatility at both defensive end and on the interior of the line.

Additionally, offensive lineman Jordan Murray was invited to mini-camp with the Seattle Seahawks. Three-day rookie minicamps will be held between May 3-6, and dates will vary by team.

The five to agree to terms Saturday are the most North Texas players to either be drafted or agree to terms as a free agent in the same year since 1971 saw six (five of which were drafted) move on to the next level. North Texas had three players sign as undrafted free agents following the 2017 season, highlighted by running back Jeffery Wilson, who made six appearances with the San Francisco 49ers as a rookie last season.

El Paso Eagle · April 28, 2019

Thank you

Salsa_Verde · April 29, 2019

Good Luck fellas...I really think Guyton is going to the best situation and opportunity to make an impact.

GMG!

Edited April 29, 2019 by Salsa_Verde

El Paso Eagle · April 29, 2019

Good fit for EJ? From ESPN http://www.espn.com/nfl/draft2019/story/_/id/26620619/2019-nfl-draft-biggest-post-draft-questions-all-32-teams

What are the Ravens going to do at inside linebacker? After losing C.J. Mosley in free agency, Baltimore didn't add a replacement for its leading tackler with any of its eight draft picks. The Ravens didn't find much value with this inside linebacker class, which was thinner than other positions. Team officials appear comfortable going with Patrick Onwuasor, who finished strong, and Kenny Young, a fourth-round pick from a year ago, in the middle of their retooled defense. The Ravens have a history of finding quality undrafted inside linebackers and also could sign a veteran who's still available. -- Jamison Hensley

NorthTexasWeLove · April 29, 2019

The real UNT NFL DRAFT recap:

meangreenlax · April 30, 2019

On 4/29/2019 at 12:52 PM, El Paso Eagle said:

Good fit for EJ? From ESPN http://www.espn.com/nfl/draft2019/story/_/id/26620619/2019-nfl-draft-biggest-post-draft-questions-all-32-teams

What are the Ravens going to do at inside linebacker? After losing C.J. Mosley in free agency, Baltimore didn't add a replacement for its leading tackler with any of its eight draft picks. The Ravens didn't find much value with this inside linebacker class, which was thinner than other positions. Team officials appear comfortable going with Patrick Onwuasor, who finished strong, and Kenny Young, a fourth-round pick from a year ago, in the middle of their retooled defense. The Ravens have a history of finding quality undrafted inside linebackers and also could sign a veteran who's still available. -- Jamison Hensley

I guess I'm the token Ravens fan around here. The article is right, the Ravens are uncharacteristically thin at LB this year. Historically the team has done well in picking up UDFA LBs. If EJ lands in Baltimore and balls out, he will play a lot and contribute.

jdennis82 · May 6, 2019

On 4/28/2019 at 5:20 PM, Harry said:

Additionally, offensive lineman Jordan Murray was invited to mini-camp with the Seattle Seahawks. Three-day rookie minicamps will be held between May 3-6, and dates will vary by team.

Murray made headlines early on based on his size alone...

"But two players looked the part Friday — 6-9 offensive tackle Jordan Murray of North Texas and 6-2, 234-pound receiver Daniel Williams, a third-year player who has also been on the rosters of the Jets, Browns and Washington the past two seasons.

Asked if he’d ever seen a 6-9 tackle before, Carrolll said: “I don’t know, but I have not gotten over it yet and I’m serious. OK. Six-nine and then you stand next to him or anybody stands next to him and he just, he just makes everybody look like a punk, you know? So I don’t know how he did today. I couldn’t tell, but he impressed me. I stood well away from him whenever I had a chance.’’

Source: https://www.seattletimes.com/sports/seahawks/observations-from-day-1-of-seahawks-rookie-minicamp-d-k-metcalf-impresses/

At least he's making an impression...now, hopefully, he can capitalize on the attention.