Two More Ole Miss Rebels Chosen In Final Day Of NFL Draft

CHICAGO (Ole Miss Athletics) – Two more Rebels were selected on the final day of the 2016 National Football League Draft on Saturday, giving Ole Miss a total of five picks over the three-day draft.

Ole Miss in the 2016 NFL Draft:

• Laremy Tunsil – OT – Round 1 – 13 overall – Miami Dolphins
• Laquon Treadwell – WR – Round 1 – 23 overall – Minnesota Vikings
• Robert Nkemdiche – DT – Round 1 – 29 overall – Arizona Cardinals
• Fahn Cooper – OT – Round 5 – 174 overall – San Francisco 49ers
• Cody Core – WR – Round 6 – 199 overall – Cincinnati Bengals

The five draft picks were the most for Ole Miss since having five in 1985 and the most since the NFL went to a seven-round format in 1994. It was the most Rebels chosen in the first six rounds of the draft since 1971.

Ole Miss tied for eighth among schools with five draft picks, trailing only Ohio State (12), Clemson (9), UCLA (8), Alabama (7), Florida (7), Notre Dame (7) and Baylor (6).

Cooper, a native of Crystal Lake, Illinois, was a two-year starter for the Rebels after transferring from the College of DuPage. He started all 26 games at either left or right tackle and was the 2015 Kent Hull Trophy winner as the state of Mississippi’s top offensive lineman. After helping the Rebels shatter numerous offensive school records, he played in the East-West Shrine Game and participated in the NFL Combine.

Cooper is the first Rebel to be drafted by the 49ers since possible future Hall of Famer Patrick Willis in 2007. He makes it the first time for Ole Miss to have a pair of offensive linemen chosen in the same draft since 2005 (C Chris Spencer, OTMarcus Johnson).

Core made a name for himself in his final two seasons with the Red and Blue after bouncing between offense and defense at the start of his career. A two-star prospect out of Auburn (Ala.) High School, Core blossomed late as a receiver, catching 78 passes for 1,202 yards and 10 touchdowns in his final two seasons. Like Cooper, Core also participated in the East-West Shrine Game and the NFL Combine earlier this year.

Core is the first Rebel to be drafted by the Bengals since Stacy Andrews in 2004. He makes it the first draft since 1990 in which a pair of Ole Miss receivers were selected (Willie Green, Pat Coleman).

Ole Miss has now had three wide receivers drafted in the last three years, including Donte Moncrief to the Indianapolis Colts in the third round of the 2014 draft.

Several more Rebels have said that they are signing rookie free agent contracts with teams and should be officially announced within the next few days.

Ole Miss has a great tradition of producing NFL talent, including 286 all-time draft picks and 22 first-round selections. Last year, there were 19 Rebels in the league, including Super Bowl 50 participant Michael Oher of the Carolina Panthers.