The University of Texas at Austin Athletics
Thompson picked in fifth round of NFL Draft by New York Giants
05.02.2015 | Football
Defensive back chosen 144th overall Saturday, during final day of draft
2015 NFL Draft Index | Quotes: Thompson on the NFL Draft | Video: Highlights of Thompson | Photo Gallery: Thompson in action
Texas had its third player selected in the 2015 NFL Draft when defensive back Mykkele Thompson was chosen by the New York Giants with the eighth choice (144th overall) during Saturday's fifth round.
New England chose Malcom Brown with the final pick in Thursday's first round and Philadelphia took Jordan Hicks in Friday's third round of the draft, which has spanned the last three days in Chicago.
The Longhorns now have had at least three players selected in 12 of the last 13 NFL Drafts. Thompson is the fifth UT defensive back to be picked in the last five drafts.
"It's always great," Thompson said of continuing the tradition of Texas defensive backs playing in the NFL. "The older guys laid the foundation for us, and we just want to uphold the tradition they put ahead and keep it going. It's great to part of something like that."
Cornerback Aaron Ross was the last Longhorn selected by the Giants, going in the opening round in 2007. Thompson will join cornerback Chykie Brown and running back Chris Ogbonnaya as former Texas players on the New York roster.
"I haven't had a chance to spend time with Chris, but of course Chykie, with him being a DB, we've had conversations," Thompson said. "It's always great to know somebody that's from your school on the roster. I know Chykie will do nothing but push me."
A two-year starter who played in all 52 games the last four seasons, Thompson ranked seventh on the team in tackles (69) in 2014 and averaged 7.0 stops during the last seven contests. He posted a career-high 72 tackles in 2013.
"Mykkele is really good cover guy and also played the nickel position, but he has a lot of skill and a lot of ability," head coach Charlie Strong said. "He has a lot of range when he's in the middle of the field, but he's good enough to play man coverage because he has height, and can get into receivers' bodies and make them work to catch the ball."
For his career, Thompson started 25 games and tallied 213 tackles, including 125 solo stops, seven tackles for loss and two interceptions. He was also a regular on special teams, contributing three career blocked kicks (two punt/one field goal). His two blocked punts in 2012 tied for the Big 12 lead.
While there are two Longhorns on the current New York roster, Thompson is just the third to be selected by the team in nearly 50 years. Rod Babers was picked in the fourth round of the 2003 NFL Draft. Prior to him, Phil Harris was chosen in the seventh round of the 1966 draft.
"That was the only team that I took a visit to," Thompson said. "I went and saw their facilities and everything and got a great vibe from everyone on the staff. I had a feeling I would end up with them, I just didn't know when it was going to happen."
Longhorns Draft Notes
• The Longhorns have had 333 players chosen on draft day and had at least one player selected in 77 of the 80 NFL Drafts, including a record 76 consecutive (1938-2013).
• With Jordan Hicks' selection Friday, the Longhorns have at least two players taken in the first three rounds in 13 of the last 15 NFL Drafts. New England selected Malcom Brown in the first round Thursday. In fact, at least two Longhorns have been drafted in 51 of the last 54 years, dating back to 1962.
• With Mykkele Thompson's selection in the fifth round, the Longhorns have at least three players selected in 12 of the last 13 NFL Drafts.
• Despite not having a player selected in the 2014 NFL Draft, seven Longhorns ended up signing as free agents. Six Longhorns from that class were on NFL rosters last season including Carrington Byndom (Carolina), Donald Hawkins (Dallas), Trey Hopkins (Cincinnati), Jackson Jeffcoat (Washington), Adrian Phillips (San Diego) and Chris Whaley (Dallas). The six first-year players on NFL rosters was tied with Baylor and Oklahoma for the most among Big 12 schools and tied for 21st in the nation.
• Texas has had 44 players selected in the first round with three of those Longhorns — Kenneth Sims, 1982; Earl Campbell, 1978; Tommy Nobis, 1966 — earning the honor of being the first player selected overall.
• This is the fourth year in the last seven the Longhorns have a first-round draft choice including Kenny Vaccaro (2013 by New Orleans), Earl Thomas (2010 by Seattle) and Brian Orakpo (2009 by Washington).
• Texas holds the NFL record with 17 players selected in the 1984 draft.
• On Thursday, Malcom Brown (New England) became the fourth player under Strong to be drafted in the first round during the last two years. Last season, Louisville had three first round picks in safety Calvin Pryor (18th overall to New York Jets), defensive end Marcus Smith (26th overall to Philadelphia) and quarterback Teddy Bridgewater (32nd overall to Minnesota). Strong was the head coach with the Cardinals from 2011 to 2014. Since 1995, Strong has coached 13 players selected in the first round and 31 taken in the first four rounds.
