University of Memphis Athletics
Photo by: Matthew A. Smith
Claybrooks Drafted by Jacksonville Jaguars
Apr 25, 2020 | Football
MEMPHIS – Defensive back Chris Claybrooks (Nashville, Tenn./McGavock HS/Fort Scott CC/Cohoma CC) was selected in the seventh round of 2020 NFL Draft Saturday by the Jacksonville Jaguars with the 223rd overall pick. He is the second Tiger drafted this season, following Antonio Gibson's third round selection Friday by the Washington Redskins.
Claybrooks came to Memphis and transitioned from offense to defense. In his first year at Memphis, Claybrooks appeared in 12 games, largely on special teams, recording his first career pick-six touchdown in the Birmingham Bowl against Wake Forest.
As a senior, Claybrooks missed the first five games of the season due to a foot injury, but finished the season tied for 10th in total tackles (42). He also added two PBU, two quarterback hurries, one interception, one forced fumble and one sack. He was one of three Tigers to return a kickoff for a touchdown, taking one back in the regular-season finale, a game Memphis needed to win to earn a spot in the AAC Championship game.
In that championship game, he had a hand in both Bearcat turnovers. He forced a fumble inside the Memphis 25-yard line, ending a Bearcat scoring threat. Later, he intercepted a Desmond Ritter pass on Cincinnati's first play after the Tigers had cut the Cincinnati lead to 21-20.
He is the first Tiger to be drafted by the Jacksonville Jaguars and his selection gives Memphis multiple draftees for a third straight season. With Dustin Woodard drafted seven picks after Claybrooks, Memphis has had three draftees for the first time since the 2001 draft (Idrees Bashir, Michael Stone, Marcus Bell).
2020 Antonio Gibson, RB, Washington Redskins, Third Round, Pick 66
2020 Chris Claybrooks, DB, Jacksonville Jaguars, Seventh Round, Pick 223
2020 Dustin Woodard, C/OL, New England Patriots, Seventh Round, Pick 230
2019 Darrell Henderson, RB, Los Angeles Rams, Third Round, Pick 70
2019 Tony Pollard, RB, Dallas Cowboys, Fourth Round, Pick 128
2018 Anthony Miller, WR, Chicago Bears, Second Round, Pick 51
2018 Genard Avery, LB, Cleveland Browns, Fifth Round, Pick 150
2017 Jake Elliott, Place-Kicker, Cincinnati Bengals, Fifth Round, Pick 118
2016 Paxton Lynch, Quarterback, Denver Broncos, First Round, Pick 22
2015 Bobby McCain, Cornerback, Miami Dolphins, Fifth Round, Pick 145
2015 Martin Ifedi, Defensive End, St. Louis Rams, Seventh Round, Pick 227
2014 Lonnie Ballentine, Defensive Back, Houston Texas, Pick 256
Claybrooks came to Memphis and transitioned from offense to defense. In his first year at Memphis, Claybrooks appeared in 12 games, largely on special teams, recording his first career pick-six touchdown in the Birmingham Bowl against Wake Forest.
As a senior, Claybrooks missed the first five games of the season due to a foot injury, but finished the season tied for 10th in total tackles (42). He also added two PBU, two quarterback hurries, one interception, one forced fumble and one sack. He was one of three Tigers to return a kickoff for a touchdown, taking one back in the regular-season finale, a game Memphis needed to win to earn a spot in the AAC Championship game.
In that championship game, he had a hand in both Bearcat turnovers. He forced a fumble inside the Memphis 25-yard line, ending a Bearcat scoring threat. Later, he intercepted a Desmond Ritter pass on Cincinnati's first play after the Tigers had cut the Cincinnati lead to 21-20.
He is the first Tiger to be drafted by the Jacksonville Jaguars and his selection gives Memphis multiple draftees for a third straight season. With Dustin Woodard drafted seven picks after Claybrooks, Memphis has had three draftees for the first time since the 2001 draft (Idrees Bashir, Michael Stone, Marcus Bell).
2020 Antonio Gibson, RB, Washington Redskins, Third Round, Pick 66
2020 Chris Claybrooks, DB, Jacksonville Jaguars, Seventh Round, Pick 223
2020 Dustin Woodard, C/OL, New England Patriots, Seventh Round, Pick 230
2019 Darrell Henderson, RB, Los Angeles Rams, Third Round, Pick 70
2019 Tony Pollard, RB, Dallas Cowboys, Fourth Round, Pick 128
2018 Anthony Miller, WR, Chicago Bears, Second Round, Pick 51
2018 Genard Avery, LB, Cleveland Browns, Fifth Round, Pick 150
2017 Jake Elliott, Place-Kicker, Cincinnati Bengals, Fifth Round, Pick 118
2016 Paxton Lynch, Quarterback, Denver Broncos, First Round, Pick 22
2015 Bobby McCain, Cornerback, Miami Dolphins, Fifth Round, Pick 145
2015 Martin Ifedi, Defensive End, St. Louis Rams, Seventh Round, Pick 227
2014 Lonnie Ballentine, Defensive Back, Houston Texas, Pick 256
Players Mentioned
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