ORLANDO (UCFKnights.com) - Two pass-catching Knights are headed to the NFL after Friday night's second and third rounds of the National Football League Draft.
Wide receiver Tre'Quan Smith and tight end Jordan Akins each heard their names called in the third round. Smith was selected by the New Orleans Saints as the 27th pick of the third round and the 91st pick overall. Akins was chosen by the Houston Texans with the 34th pick of the third round and the 98th overall selection.
Smith and Akins became the 38th and 39th Knights drafted in school history. With Mike Hughes' selection in the first round and the Knight duo chosen Friday, it marks the first time that multiple players from UCF were taken inside the first 100 picks.
Smith is the ninth UCF wide receiver selected in NFL Draft. The following is a look at the previous Knight wideouts chosen:
- Ted Wilson (1987, 274th)
- Bernard Ford (1988, 65th)
- Shawn Jefferson (1991, 240th)
- Charles Lee (2000, 242nd)
- Doug Gabriel (2003, 167th)
- Brandon Marshall (2006, 119th)
- Mike Sims-Walker (2007, 79th)
- Breshad Perriman (2015, 26th)
Akins becomes the third Knight tight end to be selected in the NFL Draft. The previous two were:
- Michael Gaines (2004, 234th)
- Mike Merritt (2008, 239th)
Smith was a Fourth Team All-America selection by Phil Steele. He was a Second Team All-Conference selection by the American Athletic Conference. Akins was a First Team all-conference choice.