University of Houston Athletics
Payton Turner Selected in First Round by New Orleans Saints
4/29/2021 11:22:00 PM | Football
Houston native becomes 15th first round NFL Draft pick in school history
HOUSTON – Houston defensive lineman Payton Turner was selected 28th overall by the New Orleans Saints in the first round of the 2021 NFL Draft on Thursday night.
Turner is Houston's 15th first-round selection program history and its second in the last three years, joining Ed Oliver (2019, Buffalo Bills). The Houston native was the only Texas FBS player selected during Thursday night's first round of the 2021 NFL Draft.
This marks the sixth straight season a Cougar has been selected in the NFL Draft, which is currently the longest active streak by any program in the American Athletic Conference. The six straight years with at least one NFL Draft pick marks the program's longest stretch since 1988-94.
Houston's four first round NFL Draft picks are also the most by any program in The American since 2013.
Turner is the first Cougar to be drafted by the New Orleans Saints since 1992 when offensive lineman Mike Gisler was selected by the franchise in the 11th round. It is the sixth time a Cougar has been drafted by the Saints in school history.
The NFL Draft resumes at 6 p.m. CT with the second and third rounds on ESPN, ABC and the NFL Network.
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Follow Houston Football on Twitter and Instagram at @UHCougarFB, and "Like" Houston Cougar Football on Facebook.
Turner is Houston's 15th first-round selection program history and its second in the last three years, joining Ed Oliver (2019, Buffalo Bills). The Houston native was the only Texas FBS player selected during Thursday night's first round of the 2021 NFL Draft.
This marks the sixth straight season a Cougar has been selected in the NFL Draft, which is currently the longest active streak by any program in the American Athletic Conference. The six straight years with at least one NFL Draft pick marks the program's longest stretch since 1988-94.
Houston's four first round NFL Draft picks are also the most by any program in The American since 2013.
Turner is the first Cougar to be drafted by the New Orleans Saints since 1992 when offensive lineman Mike Gisler was selected by the franchise in the 11th round. It is the sixth time a Cougar has been drafted by the Saints in school history.
The NFL Draft resumes at 6 p.m. CT with the second and third rounds on ESPN, ABC and the NFL Network.
PAYTON TURNER | DL | NEW ORLEANS SAINTS
- 2020 Second Team American All-Conference Selection
- Appeared in 39 games with 27 career starts
- Finished career with 115 tackles, 25.0 tackles for loss and 10.0 sacks
- Registered 25 tackles in just five games in 2020, while recording 10.5 tackles for loss and 5.0 sacks
- Started 12 games in 2019 and recorded 34 tackles (20 solo), 8.0 tackles for loss and 4.0 sacks
FIRST ROUND PICK!
— Houston Football (@UHCougarFB) April 30, 2021
Congrats to @pt_turner98 for being selected by the @Saints with the 28th overall pick in the #NFLDraft2021 ! #GoCoogs pic.twitter.com/yzMR0BYeMO
STAY CONNECTED
Follow Houston Football on Twitter and Instagram at @UHCougarFB, and "Like" Houston Cougar Football on Facebook.
Players Mentioned
DL
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