Four Cougars Selected in 2023 NFL Draft
4/21/2023 10:25:00 AM | Football
Houston notches most draft picks since posting as many in 1997
KANSAS CITY, Mo. – The final day of the 2023 NFL Draft featured a steady presence of Cougars with three University of Houston student-athletes being selected, upping the three-day total to four total players and marking the most since having as many selections in 1997.
After wide receiver Nathaniel Dell was taken in the third round (69th pick) Friday by the Houston Texans, quarterback Clayton Tune followed with his fifth-round (pick 139) selection by the Arizona Cardinals. Two more Cougars heard their names called in the seventh round as Derek Parish, drafted as a fullback, was taken with the 240th overall pick by the Jacksonville Jaguars and defensive back Gervarrius Owens was picked up by the New York Giants with the 254th pick.
Houston's four picks ranked third among in-state programs, trailing only TCU (8) and Texas (5). It marked just the fifth time in the last 40 years Houston had 4+ players selected (1990 – 7; 1992 – 5; 1984 – 5; 2023 – 4; 1997 – 4) in a draft.
Tune's 11,994 career passing yards are the most of any quarterback in the 2023 NFL Draft. He is the first quarterback drafted from the University of Houston since Kevin Kolb in 2007. Tune will join his former teammate and current Arizona tackle Josh Jones.
Tune climbed the Houston record books as part of a strong senior season. The Carrollton, Texas, native ranks second in school history in passing touchdowns (104) and third with 956 completions. He led Houston to 25 victories as a starter and set an American single season record with 40 passing touchdowns in 2022 while ranking fifth nationally in passing yards per game (313.4). In 44 career games, he passed for more than 11,000 yards and 95 touchdowns.
With his selection, Dell became the highest drafted Cougar wideout since 2008 (Donnie Avery; Round 2; Pick 33; Rams). He is also the first Houston player to be drafted by the Texans.
Dell's selection follows a sensational All-America season. The First-Team All-American Athletic Conference honoree, who was recognized as the top wideout in Texas (Dave Campbell's Texas Football) led the nation in receiving touchdowns (17) and receiving yards (1,398). Dell notched six 100-yard receiving performances and ranked second in the country in receptions (109). In 32 career games, he amassed nearly 3,000 receiving yards, averaging 90.8 receiving yards per contest.
Parish's decorated career was cut short due to injury, but his impact was fell across four games last season. The senior set an American Athletic Conference record for sacks (4.5) and tackles for loss (6.5) at Texas Tech as part of an 11-tackle performance, in the process becoming one of two players since 2000 with at least 4.5 sacks, 6.5 tackles for loss and a forced fumble in a game. He registered 146 career tackles and 32.5 tackles for loss across 48 games between 2018-22.
Owens was named a Second-Team All-Conference honoree a season ago after compiling 74 tackles and eight pass breakups, ranking second on the team. The Moore, Okla., native was graded as The American's top safety (82.5) by Pro Football Focus. During his four-year career, Owens logged 195 total tackles including 132 solo stops while intercepting four passes.
- The Cougars have had at least one selection in the eight consecutive NFL Drafts, the second-longest streak in school history.
- Houston is one of two Texas programs (Texas A&M) to have had 3+ players selected in at least six of the last eight NFL Drafts.
- Twenty-one Cougars have been selected in the NFL Draft since 2016 including five top-two round selections.
SEASON TICKETS ON SALE
Season tickets are on sale for Houston's inaugural Big 12 Conference season. Seven-game packages begin as low as $175 to see the Cougars host UTSA (Sept. 2), TCU (Sept. 16), Sam Houston (Sept. 23), West Virginia (Oct. 12), Texas (Oct. 21), Cincinnati (Nov. 11) and Oklahoma State (Nov. 18) at TDECU Stadium. Houston's seven on-campus home games are its most since 2015.
SUPPORT HOUSTON RISE
Join Houston Rise, a $150 million fundraising campaign for Houston Athletics dedicated to championship success in the Big 12 Conference. Every Houston Rise contribution prepares our Cougars to compete and win when we start Big 12 competition in July 2023.
Click here to rise and be counted.
JOIN The 46ers and The HUDDLE
Fans are invited to join the 46ers and the Huddle to directly support Houston Football. Members provide financial support directly to Houston Football for needs beyond operating budget. For more information about the 46ers and the Huddle, call Cougar Pride at 713-743-GoUH (4684) or click here.
STAY CONNECTED
Follow Houston Football on Twitter and Instagram at @UHCougarFB, and "Like" Houston Cougar Football on Facebook.
After wide receiver Nathaniel Dell was taken in the third round (69th pick) Friday by the Houston Texans, quarterback Clayton Tune followed with his fifth-round (pick 139) selection by the Arizona Cardinals. Two more Cougars heard their names called in the seventh round as Derek Parish, drafted as a fullback, was taken with the 240th overall pick by the Jacksonville Jaguars and defensive back Gervarrius Owens was picked up by the New York Giants with the 254th pick.
Houston's four picks ranked third among in-state programs, trailing only TCU (8) and Texas (5). It marked just the fifth time in the last 40 years Houston had 4+ players selected (1990 – 7; 1992 – 5; 1984 – 5; 2023 – 4; 1997 – 4) in a draft.
Tune's 11,994 career passing yards are the most of any quarterback in the 2023 NFL Draft. He is the first quarterback drafted from the University of Houston since Kevin Kolb in 2007. Tune will join his former teammate and current Arizona tackle Josh Jones.
Tune climbed the Houston record books as part of a strong senior season. The Carrollton, Texas, native ranks second in school history in passing touchdowns (104) and third with 956 completions. He led Houston to 25 victories as a starter and set an American single season record with 40 passing touchdowns in 2022 while ranking fifth nationally in passing yards per game (313.4). In 44 career games, he passed for more than 11,000 yards and 95 touchdowns.
With his selection, Dell became the highest drafted Cougar wideout since 2008 (Donnie Avery; Round 2; Pick 33; Rams). He is also the first Houston player to be drafted by the Texans.
Dell's selection follows a sensational All-America season. The First-Team All-American Athletic Conference honoree, who was recognized as the top wideout in Texas (Dave Campbell's Texas Football) led the nation in receiving touchdowns (17) and receiving yards (1,398). Dell notched six 100-yard receiving performances and ranked second in the country in receptions (109). In 32 career games, he amassed nearly 3,000 receiving yards, averaging 90.8 receiving yards per contest.
Parish's decorated career was cut short due to injury, but his impact was fell across four games last season. The senior set an American Athletic Conference record for sacks (4.5) and tackles for loss (6.5) at Texas Tech as part of an 11-tackle performance, in the process becoming one of two players since 2000 with at least 4.5 sacks, 6.5 tackles for loss and a forced fumble in a game. He registered 146 career tackles and 32.5 tackles for loss across 48 games between 2018-22.
Owens was named a Second-Team All-Conference honoree a season ago after compiling 74 tackles and eight pass breakups, ranking second on the team. The Moore, Okla., native was graded as The American's top safety (82.5) by Pro Football Focus. During his four-year career, Owens logged 195 total tackles including 132 solo stops while intercepting four passes.
2023 NFL DRAFT
LOCATION: Kansas City, Mo.
WHEN: 7 p.m. CT on Thursday, April 27 (Round 1); 6 p.m. CT on Friday, April 28 (Rounds 2-3); 11 a.m. CT on Saturday, April 29 (Rounds 4-7)
TIMING: Round 1: 10 minutes per selection. Round 2: Seven minutes per selection. Rounds 3 through 6, including compensatory picks: Five minutes per selection. Round 7, including compensatory picks: Four minutes per selection.
TELEVISION: The NFL Draft will be televised nationally by NFL Network, ABC, ESPN and ESPN Deportes.
Watch Live | Draft Tracker | Twitter | Instagram | FacebookTHE COUGARS
| Player | Pos. | Team | Round | Pick | Overall |
| Nathaniel Dell | WR | Houston Texans | 3 | 6 | 69 |
| Clayton Tune | QB | Arizona Cardinals | 5 | 4 | 139 |
| Derek Parish | FB | Jacksonville Jaguars | 7 | 23 | 240 |
| Gervarrius Owens | SAF | New York Giants | 7 | 37 | 254 |
| Donavan Mutin | LB | Indianapolis Colts | UDFA | -- | -- |
| Christian Trahan | TE | Cincinnati Bengals | UDFA | -- | -- |
| Art Green | DB | Denver Broncos | UDFA | -- | -- |
| D'Anthony Jones | DL | Chicago Bears | UDFA |
DRAFT NOTES
- Houston has 192 total NFL Draft picks in school history. Max Clark was the first Cougar to be selected in the NFL Draft in 1951.- The Cougars have had at least one selection in the eight consecutive NFL Drafts, the second-longest streak in school history.
- Houston is one of two Texas programs (Texas A&M) to have had 3+ players selected in at least six of the last eight NFL Drafts.
- Twenty-one Cougars have been selected in the NFL Draft since 2016 including five top-two round selections.
SEASON TICKETS ON SALE
Season tickets are on sale for Houston's inaugural Big 12 Conference season. Seven-game packages begin as low as $175 to see the Cougars host UTSA (Sept. 2), TCU (Sept. 16), Sam Houston (Sept. 23), West Virginia (Oct. 12), Texas (Oct. 21), Cincinnati (Nov. 11) and Oklahoma State (Nov. 18) at TDECU Stadium. Houston's seven on-campus home games are its most since 2015.
SUPPORT HOUSTON RISE
Join Houston Rise, a $150 million fundraising campaign for Houston Athletics dedicated to championship success in the Big 12 Conference. Every Houston Rise contribution prepares our Cougars to compete and win when we start Big 12 competition in July 2023.
Click here to rise and be counted.
JOIN The 46ers and The HUDDLE
Fans are invited to join the 46ers and the Huddle to directly support Houston Football. Members provide financial support directly to Houston Football for needs beyond operating budget. For more information about the 46ers and the Huddle, call Cougar Pride at 713-743-GoUH (4684) or click here.
STAY CONNECTED
Follow Houston Football on Twitter and Instagram at @UHCougarFB, and "Like" Houston Cougar Football on Facebook.
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