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PHILADELPHIA – Former University of Illinois defensive end Dawuane Smoot (pronounced duh-WON) was selected in the third round of the 2017 NFL Draft on Friday night in Philadelphia. Smoot was selected by the Jacksonville Jaguars with the 68th overall pick.
Smoot, a 6-3, 264-pound defensive end and team captain for the Illini, posted 56 tackles, 15.0 TFLs, 5.0 sacks, 10 QB hurries and two forced fumbles in 2016 to earn third-team All-Big Ten honors. In 2016, he racked up 15.0 TFLs and 8.0 sacks. The Groveport, Ohio, native finished his UI career ranked sixth in program history in career TFLs (38.5) and eighth in career sacks (16.5), while collecting 137 tackles, five passes defended and five forced fumbles. He played in the 2017 Senior Bowl and participated in the 2017 NFL Combine.Â
The 2017 NFL draft continues Saturday with rounds 4-7. Coverage starts at 11 a.m. CT on NFL Network and ESPN. For complete Illini draft coverage, visit fightingillini.com and follow @IlliniFootball on Twitter.
Illinois NFL Draft Notes
   » Smoot is the sixth Illinois defensive lineman drafted since 2011 (Corey Liuget 2011, Whitney Mercilus 2012, Akeem Spence 2013, Michael Buchanan 2013, Jihad Ward 2016)
   » Smoot is the fourth Illinois defensive end drafted since 2012 (Whitney Mercilus, 2012, Michael Buchanan 2013, Jihad Ward 2016)
   » Smoot is the fourth Illini player drafted by the Jaguars and the first since 2004 (Kevin Hardy 1996, Danny Clark 1999, Sean Bubin 2004)
   » Illinois has had at least one player drafted in 42 of the last 45 years and has 241 all-time NFL Draft picks | Illini Draft History
| 2017 Illini NFL Draft Picks |
| Player |
Pos. |
Round |
Pick |
Team |
| Dawuane Smoot |
DE |
3 |
68 |
Jacksonville Jaguars |
