PROVIDENCE, R.I. – Houston cornerback William Jackson III and Memphis quarterback Paxton Lynch were chosen in the first round of the 2016 NFL Draft, marking the third straight year in which the American Athletic Conference has produced multiple first-round picks.
Jackson was taken with the 24th pick by the Cincinnati Bengals, while Lynch was selected two spots later by the Denver Broncos at No. 26 overall.
Jackson finished as the national leader in passes defended in 2015 (28) as he had five interceptions and 23 pass breakups in 14 games. He set a school record with seven pass breakups in the Cougars' American Athletic Conference Championship win against Temple and was named Defensive MVP of the Chick-fil-A-Peach Bowl after he had 10 tackles, two interceptions and two pass breakups in the Cougars' win against Florida State. He was a two-time selection to the American Athletic Conference Second Team.
Lynch was a two-time all-conference selection in his three years as Memphis' starting signal-caller, including a first-team pick in 2015, when he was also named as a finalist for the Manning Award and the Johnny Unitas Golden Arm Award. He threw for 3,778 yards and 28 touchdowns against four interceptions in 2015, helping Memphis to a 9-4 record. He led the Tigers to a 10-3 finish in 2014, throwing for 3,031 yards and 22 touchdowns with 13 rushing TDs.
Three players from The American were chosen in the fourth round of the draft as Temple cornerback Tavon Young went to the Baltimore Ravens at No. 104 overall, and Cincinnati offensive guard Parker Ehinger was tabbed one spot later by the Kansas City Chiefs. Cincinnati receiver Chris Moore went to the Ravens with the 107th pick overall.
Temple defensive tackle Matt Ioannidis was The American's lone pick in the fifth round as he went to the Washington Redskins with the 152nd pick overall.
The sixth round saw Navy quarterback Keenan Reynolds, the 2015 American Athletic Conference Offensive Player of the Year, chosen by Baltimore with the 182nd overall pick. Houston linebacker Elandon Roberts, who led the nation with 88 solo tackles in 2015, was taken by the New England Patriots with the 214th pick.
The Pittsburgh Steelers chose two American Athletic Conference players in the seventh round. Houston's Demarcus Ayers, who earned all-conference first team honors as a wide receiver and return specialist in 2015, was chosen at No. 229 overall, while Temple linebacker Tyler Matakevich, the 2015 Bednarik and Nagurski Award winner as the nation's top defensive player, was taken at No. 246 overall.
The American had two players chosen in the first round of the 2015 NFL Draft and had four first-round picks in 2014.
American Athletic Conference Players Chosen in the 2016 NFL Draft
| Round |
Overall |
Player |
Pos |
School |
NFL Team |
| 1 |
24 |
William Jackson III |
CB |
Houston |
Cincinnati |
| 1 |
26 |
Paxton Lynch |
QB |
Memphis |
Denver |
| 4 |
104 |
Tavon Young |
CB |
Temple |
Baltimore |
| 4 |
105 |
Parker Ehinger |
OG |
Cincinnati |
Kansas City |
| 4 |
107 |
Chris Moore |
WR |
Cincinnati |
Baltimore |
| 5 |
152 |
Matt Ioannidis |
DT |
Temple |
Washington |
| 6 |
182 |
Keenan Reynolds |
QB |
Navy |
Baltimore |
| 6 |
214 |
Elandon Roberts |
LB |
Houston |
New England |
| 7 |
229 |
Demarcus Ayers |
WR |
Houston |
Pittsburgh |
| 7 |
246 |
Tyler Matakevich |
LB |
Temple |
Pittsburgh |