Jaylon Ferguson Drafted by the Baltimore Ravens in the Third Round

Once again, the all-time NCAA career sacks leader is a Baltimore Raven.

Former Louisiana Tech Bulldog Jaylon Ferguson was taken with the 21st pick of the third round (85th overall). He joins former teammate Kenneth Dixon in Maryland.

The Baltimore Ravens had one of the best defenses in the NFL in 2018. They led the league in yards allowed and were second in points allowed.

However, the Ravens were tied for 26th in the league in sacks. The reigning AFC North champs have taken a big step toward filling that void.

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Ferguson won C-USA defensive player of the year in 2018 and was an all-conference selection his junior and senior years. He broke the La Tech record for sacks in a season as a sophomore with 14.5, then broke his own record as a senior with 17.5.

His 2.5 sacks in the Hawaii Bowl meant he finished with 45 career sacks, passing former Raven Terrell Suggs for the all-time record.

Ferguson was originally invited to the NFL Combine, but was uninvited after the NFL learned of an incident his freshman year. However, any questions about his character may have been answered. After a tornado hit Ruston and the Louisiana Tech campus early Thursday morning, news spread that Ferguson was out helping with cleanup efforts rather than focusing on the draft and his own future.

Jaylon Ferguson is the second La Tech defensive lineman to go in an early round under Skip Holtz. Former teammate Vernon Butler was a first round pick for the Panthers in the 2016 draft.