Three Cardinals Selected in the Third Round on Friday
May 02, 2015 | Football
LOUISVILLE, Ky.- Three University of Louisville football players were third-round selections Friday during the second day of the 2015 NFL Draft from Chicago, Ill.
Offensive tackle Jamon Brown was the No. 72 pick of the St. Louis Rams, while offensive guard John Miller was the No. 81 selection of the Buffalo Bills, and outside linebacker Lorenzo Mauldin went No. 82 to the New York Jets.
Through the first two days of the draft, the Cardinals have seen four players selected after wide receiver DeVante Parker went No. 14 in the first round to the Miami Dolphins on Thursday. Over the last two seasons, Louisville has had eight players selected in the draft.
"I'm excited for all three of those players who were selected today," head coach Bobby Petrino said. "As seniors, they were true leaders on our team and meant a lot to the success of this program over the last four seasons. They all came in together and helped build this program. We are going to miss their leadership, but I wish them luck during their pro careers."
Brown, a second team all-ACC selection this past season, started 40 games during his career with the Cardinals, including the last 39 games. He helped lead the Cardinals to 39 wins over the last four seasons, including four bowl appearances. He was a starter in 2013 for all 13 games as the Cardinals went 11-2 and defeated Florida in the Sugar Bowl, and for the entire slate of the school-best 12-1 season.
A native of Louisville, Ky., Brown worked as a defensive tackle for the first four weeks of the 2011 season, but was switched to the offensive line during the week of the fifth game of the season against North Carolina, where he made his first start after four days of practice.
A four-year starter at offensive guard, Miller started 47 games during his career, including 33 consecutive games. A native of Miami, Fla., Miller was an all-ACC honorable mention this season after earning second team all-American Athletic Conference accolades in 2013.
Mauldin, one of the inspirational leaders for the Cardinals, was a dominating pass rusher during his four seasons with the Cardinals. Appearing in 49 games in his career, Mauldin finished ninth on the school's all-time sacks list with 20.5 after registering a career-best 9.5 in 2013 and 6.5 last year.
A first team all-ACC selection this year, Mauldin registered a career-best 51 tackles and 13.0 tackles for loss. He ended his Louisville career with 119 tackles and 32 tackles for loss.
"I can't thank my UofL football family enough," Mauldin said on Friday night. "They took me in, loved me, cared for me and gave me the support I needed to achieve all my goals, and help me make something of my life. I'm thankful for both Coach Strong and Coach Petrino for sticking by me. "
"I couldn't have achieved any of this without my teammates, the staff and my coaches. I'm just so excited and thankful right now."
Rounds 4-7 will begin at noon on Saturday.
