University of Houston Athletics
Isaiah Johnson, Emeke Egbule Taken in NFL Draft
4/27/2019 4:29:00 PM | Football
Johnson taken in Fourth Round by Oakland Raiders, Egbule selected in Sixth Round by Los Angeles Chargers
NASHVILLE, Tenn. – University of Houston cornerback Isaiah Johnson and linebacker Emeke Egbule became the latest Cougars to be selected in the NFL Draft on Saturday afternoon.
Johnson was selected with the 27th pick off the Fourth Round (No. 129 overall) by the Oakland Raiders, while Egbule was taken with the 27th pick of the Sixth Round (No. 200 overall) by the Los Angeles Chargers.
This marked the fourth straight season a Cougar was chosen in the NFL Draft. It also was the third season in the last four years in which multiple Cougars were selected.
Johnson and Egbule joined defensive tackle Ed Oliver as the latest Cougars to be drafted. Oliver was taken by the Buffalo Bills with the No. 9 overall pick on Thursday night.
ISAIAH JOHNSON
Johnson became the first Houston cornerback to be drafted since Howard Wilson (Cleveland Browns, Fourth Round) and Brandon Wilson (Cincinnati Bengals, Sixth Round) were taken in the 2017 Draft.
He was the first Cougar to be taken by the Raiders since cornerback D.J. Hayden was selected in the First Round with the No. 24 pick by the Raiders.
Johnson also became the seventh Cougar to be drafted by the Raiders, joining Hayden, cornerback Stanford Routt (2005, Second), wide receiver Larry Shepherd (1986, 12th), offensive tackle Jim Norris (1962, Seventh), center Dan Birdwell (1962, Sixth), back Harold Evans (1960),
Isaiah Johnson | CB | Sr.
• Competed in the Senior Bowl in Mobile, Ala.
• Started 10 of 11 games in 2018
• Led Houston with seven pass breakups
• Led all Cougar cornerbacks with 66 tackles, two of which resulted in loss, while picking off two passes and
recording one quarterback hurry
• Finished fifth on the team with five special teams tackles
• Competed in 12 games with five starts in 2017
• Finished with 45 tackles, nine pass breakups and two interceptions in 2017
• Began his career as a receive at Houston but made change to cornerback in 2017
• Before switching to defensive side of the ball, recorded 21 receptions for 208 yards
EMEKE EGBULE
With Egbule's selection, this was the second straight season a Houston linebacker was taken. A year ago, Matthew Adams was drafted in the Seventh Round by the Indianapolis Colts.
Egbule was the first Cougar to be drafted by the Chargers since safety Hanik Milligan was taken in the Sixth Round of the 2003 Draft.
Egbule joined Milligan, linebacker Larry Keller (19875, Ninth), defensive back Mike Simpson (1969, 13th) and running back Dick Post (1967, Fourth) as the only Cougars to be drafted by San Diego.
Emeke Egbule | LB | Sr.
• Started all 13 games in 2018
• Led American Athletic Conference linebackers with seven passes defended
• Ranked fifth nationally with three fumble recoveries
• Started all 12 games in 2017
• Finished fifth among the Cougars with 62 tackles and was fourth with 6.5 tackles for a loss of 43 yards
• Appeared in all 13 games with five starts in 2016
• Posted four tackles with a fumble recovery in win over Tulsa
• Appeared in all 14 games primarily on special teams in 2015
• Was the only true freshmen to compete in every game
• Ranked sixth on the team with six special teams tackles
Johnson was selected with the 27th pick off the Fourth Round (No. 129 overall) by the Oakland Raiders, while Egbule was taken with the 27th pick of the Sixth Round (No. 200 overall) by the Los Angeles Chargers.
This marked the fourth straight season a Cougar was chosen in the NFL Draft. It also was the third season in the last four years in which multiple Cougars were selected.
Johnson and Egbule joined defensive tackle Ed Oliver as the latest Cougars to be drafted. Oliver was taken by the Buffalo Bills with the No. 9 overall pick on Thursday night.
ISAIAH JOHNSON
Johnson became the first Houston cornerback to be drafted since Howard Wilson (Cleveland Browns, Fourth Round) and Brandon Wilson (Cincinnati Bengals, Sixth Round) were taken in the 2017 Draft.
He was the first Cougar to be taken by the Raiders since cornerback D.J. Hayden was selected in the First Round with the No. 24 pick by the Raiders.
Johnson also became the seventh Cougar to be drafted by the Raiders, joining Hayden, cornerback Stanford Routt (2005, Second), wide receiver Larry Shepherd (1986, 12th), offensive tackle Jim Norris (1962, Seventh), center Dan Birdwell (1962, Sixth), back Harold Evans (1960),
Isaiah Johnson | CB | Sr.
• Competed in the Senior Bowl in Mobile, Ala.
• Started 10 of 11 games in 2018
• Led Houston with seven pass breakups
• Led all Cougar cornerbacks with 66 tackles, two of which resulted in loss, while picking off two passes and
recording one quarterback hurry
• Finished fifth on the team with five special teams tackles
• Competed in 12 games with five starts in 2017
• Finished with 45 tackles, nine pass breakups and two interceptions in 2017
• Began his career as a receive at Houston but made change to cornerback in 2017
• Before switching to defensive side of the ball, recorded 21 receptions for 208 yards
EMEKE EGBULE
With Egbule's selection, this was the second straight season a Houston linebacker was taken. A year ago, Matthew Adams was drafted in the Seventh Round by the Indianapolis Colts.
Egbule was the first Cougar to be drafted by the Chargers since safety Hanik Milligan was taken in the Sixth Round of the 2003 Draft.
Egbule joined Milligan, linebacker Larry Keller (19875, Ninth), defensive back Mike Simpson (1969, 13th) and running back Dick Post (1967, Fourth) as the only Cougars to be drafted by San Diego.
Emeke Egbule | LB | Sr.
• Started all 13 games in 2018
• Led American Athletic Conference linebackers with seven passes defended
• Ranked fifth nationally with three fumble recoveries
• Started all 12 games in 2017
• Finished fifth among the Cougars with 62 tackles and was fourth with 6.5 tackles for a loss of 43 yards
• Appeared in all 13 games with five starts in 2016
• Posted four tackles with a fumble recovery in win over Tulsa
• Appeared in all 14 games primarily on special teams in 2015
• Was the only true freshmen to compete in every game
• Ranked sixth on the team with six special teams tackles
-- UHCougars.com --
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