Davenport is the first Roadrunner in program history selected in the first round of the NFL Draft. Photo credit: Joe Hernandez
Editor's note: 2018 was an incredible year for UTSA students, faculty, staff and alumni. It was a year of intense momentum as the university moved forward to become a model for student success, a great research university, and an exemplar for strategic growth and innovative excellence.
Join us as we look back at the top ten news stories of 2018, and experience our biggest accomplishments once again. These stories set a rapid pace of accomplishments going into 2019 and our 50thAnniversary celebration. Here's number five.
(Dec. 27, 2018) -- Marcus Davenport became UTSA's first-ever NFL first-round pick when he was selected 14th overall by the New Orleans Saints on Thursday night at the NFL Draft at AT&T Stadium.
Davenport heard his name called by NFL Commissioner Roger Goodell when the Saints traded with the Green Bay Packers to move up from their No. 27 spot to the 14th pick to grab the 6-6, 265-pound defensive end.
"I still don't realize that I just got selected No. 14 to the New Orleans Saints," Davenport told the media after his selection. "The Saints were my first-ever jersey and my first jersey was Reggie Bush. I've never seen my dad that excited and my mom was crying. I just want to be able to be an impact player and be able to help out any way I can."
The 2017 Conference USA Defensive Player of the Year joins 2016 NFL Draft selection David Morgan II, who was taken 188th overall (sixth round, pick 13) by the Minnesota Vikings, as Roadrunners to be drafted into the NFL.
Davenport, who was one of 22 prospects invited to attend the draft, is the first selection from a Texas university in this year's draft, the second native Texan selected (Baker Mayfield, No. 1 overall by the Cleveland Browns) and C-USA's highest selection since Louisiana Tech's Vernon Butler went 30th overall to the Carolina Panthers in 2016.
"I'm so excited for Marcus, our program and our university," said head coach Frank Wilson, who now has put 30 players into the NFL. "Marcus really willed himself to be in the position that he's in now. I could not be happier for he and his family. For all the hard work and diligence that he's put in, he's so deserving of this day.
"To see Marcus and his development, and to know that we still have young men on this team who have that type of capability, it bodes well for us and the future of our program."
A three-time all-conference selection, Davenport set UTSA career records for tackles for loss (38.0), sacks (22.0) and QB hurries (21). Last season, he became the first UTSA player to win the C-USA Defensive Player of the Year honor after posting 55 tackles and setting school records with 17.5 tackles for loss, 8.5 sacks and eight quarterback hurries. He added four pass breakups, three forced fumbles and had a fumble return for a touchdown.
The NFL Draft continues with the second and third rounds on Friday, which will air on NFL Network, FOX, ESPN, ESPN2 beginning at 6 p.m. Rounds 4-7 will be shown on NFL Network, ABC and ESPN starting at 11 a.m. Saturday.
The NFL Draft can be heard nationwide on Westwood One Radio, SiriusXM NFL Radio and TuneIn Radio.
NFL Now Live will provide comprehensive online coverage of each round of the 2018 NFL Draft NFL Now Live can be accessed at NFL.com/Draft and through the official mobile app of the NFL, NFL Mobile from Verizon, as well as the NFL app on connected TV devices and on desktop and tablet.
Live NFL Network coverage of the 2018 NFL Draft is available across devices (smartphone, PC, tablet and connected TVs) through the NFL app or NFL.com/watch for subscribers of participating NFL Network providers.
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This event will acknowledge graduating seniors from the McNair Scholars program at UTSA before inducting the new cohort of scholars into the program.
North Paseo Building (NPB 5.140), Main CampusAt this memorable celebration, UTSA graduates will be introduced one-by-one to cross the stage and accept their doctoral degrees.
Arts Building Recital Hall, Main CampusRoadrunner Walk is an event for graduating students to have a memorable walk on campus to celebrate an important milestone and their achievements. Graduates will walk along the Paseo while being celebrated by the UTSA community, friends, and family members.
Student Union Paseo, Main CampusCelebrate the accomplishments of College of Education and Human Development, College for Health, Community and Policy, College of Sciences and University College.
Alamodome, 100 Montana St.Celebrate the accomplishments of Alvarez College of Business, College of Liberal and Fine Arts and Klesse College of Engineering and Integrated Design.
Alamodome, 100 Montana St.The University of Texas at San Antonio is dedicated to the advancement of knowledge through research and discovery, teaching and learning, community engagement and public service. As an institution of access and excellence, UTSA embraces multicultural traditions and serves as a center for intellectual and creative resources as well as a catalyst for socioeconomic development and the commercialization of intellectual property - for Texas, the nation and the world.
To be a premier public research university, providing access to educational excellence and preparing citizen leaders for the global environment.
We encourage an environment of dialogue and discovery, where integrity, excellence, inclusiveness, respect, collaboration and innovation are fostered.
UTSA is a proud Hispanic Serving Institution (HSI) as designated by the U.S. Department of Education .
The University of Texas at San Antonio, a Hispanic Serving Institution situated in a global city that has been a crossroads of peoples and cultures for centuries, values diversity and inclusion in all aspects of university life. As an institution expressly founded to advance the education of Mexican Americans and other underserved communities, our university is committed to promoting access for all. UTSA, a premier public research university, fosters academic excellence through a community of dialogue, discovery and innovation that embraces the uniqueness of each voice.
