Kendrick Green Drafted by Pittsburgh
April 30, 2021 | Football
News
Bio | Draft Profile | Illini Draft History
CHAMPAIGN, Ill. — Former University of Illinois offensive lineman Kendrick Green was selected in the third round of the 2021 NFL Draft on Friday in Cleveland. Green was selected by the Pittsburgh Steelers with the 87th overall pick.
Green, a Peoria, Illinois, native stayed in-state as a four-star recruit and finished his career with 33 straight starts. This past season he became Illinois' first offensive player to earn All-America honors since FB Jay Prosch in 2011 and the first offensive player to earn First Team All-Big Ten since WR A.J. Jenkins in 2011.
The All-American was the third highest rated guard in the country by PFF and No. 17 offensive lineman in the nation during the regular season in 2020 (min. 475 snaps). In 2019, he was the No. 6-graded offensive guard in the nation and No. 2 in Power-5 by PFF during the regular season.
Green is the seventh Illinois offensive lineman drafted since 2009. Offensive lineman Nick Allegretti, who helped the Kansa City Chiefs win the Superbowl LIV and the AFC Championship in 2021, was Illinois' last draft pick in the 2019 seventh round.
A leader off the field, Green played a large role in organizing a Black Lives Matter march for Illini student-athletes on Aug. 31, 2020.
For complete Illini draft coverage, visit fightingillini.com and follow @IlliniFootball on Twitter.
All-Time NFL Picks
| Illinois' All-Time NFL Draft Picks | |
|---|---|
| 1937 | Elvin Sayre, C, Detroit (8th, 77) |
| 1939 | Jim McDonald, C, Detroit (20th, 187) |
| 1940 | Mel Brewer, T, Washington (21st, 195) |
| 1941 | Tom Riggs, G, Green Bay (15th) Jim Reeder, T, Green Bay (20th) |
| 1943 | Eddie McGovern, B, Chicago Cardinals (26th, 244) |
| 1944 | Tony Butkovich, B, Cleveland (1st, 11) Alex Agase, G, Green Bay (8th, 71) |
| 1945 | George Bujan, C, Washington (5th, 38) Les Joop, T, Detroit (9th, 82) Mike Kasap, T, Detroit (12th, 115) Ray Florek, B, Cleveland (26th, 268) |
| 1946 | Mac Wenskunas, C, Chicago Cardinals (2nd, 11) Julius Rykovich, B, Chicago Bears (2nd, 14) Chick Maggioli, B, Washington (11th, 99) Frank Bauman, E, Chicago Bears (12th, 104) Stan Sprague, E, Washington (14th, 129) Tom Gallagher, B, Chicago Bears (19th, 174) Butch Kolens, G, New York Giants (27th, 255) |
| 1947 | Art Dufelmeier, B, Chicago Cardinals (9th, 70) Dwight "Dike" Eddleman, B, Chicago Bears (9th, 75) Russ Steger, B, LA Rams (11th, 93) Lou Levanti, C, LA Rams (23rd, 213) Bob Prymuski, G, LA Rams (32nd, 299) |
| 1948 | Les Bingaman, T, Detroit (3rd, 15) Bob Cunz, T, Green Bay (8th, 61) Russ Steger, B, Detroit (13th, 107) Perry Moss, B, Green Bay (13th, 111) Lou Agase, T, Green Bay (15th, 131) |
| 1949 | Al Mastrangeli, C, Green Bay (13th, 123) Lyle Button, T, Philadelphia (13th, 131) Tony Klimek, E, Chicago Cardinals (14th, 140) Herb Siegert, G, Washington (18th, 178) Walt Kersulis, E, LA Rams (23rd, 227) |
| 1950 | Lyle Button, T, Washington (14th, 175) Walt Kersulis, E, Pittsburgh (23rd, 294) Johnny Karras, B, Detroit (28th, 356) Russ Steger, B, Detroit (29th, 369) |
| 1951 | Lynn Lynch, G, Chicago Cardinals (5th, 51) Dick Raklovits, G, Detroit, (8th, 91) Wayne Siegert, T, Detroit (13th, 153) Paul Douglass, B, NY Giants (13th, 158) Chuck Brown, G, Chicago Bears (18th, 216) Al Tate, T, San Francisco (20th, 234) Al Brosky, B, LA Rams (27th, 324) |
| 1952 | Johnny Karras, B, Chicago Cardinals (2nd, 16) Chuck Ulrich, T, Philadelphia (4th, 41) Marv Berschet , T, Washington (16th, 187) Herb Neathery, B, Cleveland (16th ,189) Tommy O'Connell, QB, Chicago Bears (18th, 212) Chuck Boerio, C, Green Bay (20th, 231) Dick Jenkins, T, Washington (21st, 247) Joe Vernasco, E, Cleveland (26th, 312) Don Stevens, B, Philadelphia (30th, 353) |
| 1953 | Rex Smith, E, Philadelphia (5th) Pete Bachouros, B, Philadelphia (19th) |
| 1954 | Stan Wallace, B, Chicago Bears (1st, 6) John Bauer, G, Cleveland (1st, 12) Rocky Ryan, E, Philadelphia (2nd, 21) Ken Miller, B, Chicago Bears (14th, 162) Jim Baughman, G, Cleveland (21st, 252) Claude Talieferro, B, Baltimore (29th, 341) |
| 1955 | Dick Miller, T, Detroit (25th, 300) Bob Gongala, B, San Francisco (30th, 356) |
| 1956 | J.C. Caroline, B, Chicago Bears (7th, 82) Em Lindback, QB, LA Rams (12th, 144) Mickey Bates, B, LA Rams (29th, 348) |
| 1957 | Abe Woodson, B, San Francisco (2nd, 15) Wayne Bock, T, Chicago Cardinals (5th, 58) Percy Oliver, G, Green Bay (20th, 231) Gary Francis, E, Pittsburgh (24th, 282) |
| 1958 | Ray Nitschke, B, Green Bay (3rd, 36) Bobby Mitchell, B, Cleveland (7th, 84) Carl Johnson, T, Green Bay (10th, 110) Rod Hanson, E, Washington (24th, 282) |
| 1959 | Rich Kreitling, E, Cleveland (1st, 11) Jack Delveaux, B, NY Giants (9th, 107) Darrell DeDecker, T, Chicago Cardinals (18th, 207) Bruce Dollahan, T, San Francisco (23rd, 270) Ron Nietupski, T, Cleveland (29th, 346) |
| 1960 | Bill Burrell, LB, Chicago Cardinals (5th, 50) |
| 1961 | Joe Rutgens, T, Washington (1st, 3) Bill Brown, B, Chicago Bears (2nd, 20) Joe Krakoski, B, Washington (6th, 72) Marshall Starks, HB, St. Louis (8th, 106) Tony Parrilli, G, San Francisco (11th, 149) Ernie McMillan, E, St. Louis (13th 176) Larry Lavery, T, Philadelphia (17th, 238) |
| 1962 | Ed O'Bradovich, E, Chicago Bears (7th, 91) Charles Dickerson, T, Cleveland (9th, 123) Gary Brown, B, San Francisco (18th, 246) |
| 1963 | Mike Taliaferro, QB, NY Giants (10th, 138) Thurman Walter, E, Green Bay (17th, 238) |
| 1965 | Dick Butkus, LB, Chicago Bears (1st, 3) George Donnelly, B, San Francisco (1st, 13) Archie Sutton, T, Minnesota (2nd, 15) Gregg Schumacher, E, San Francisco (13th, 170) Dave Powless, G, NY Giants (17th, 225) |
| 1966 | Jim Grabowski, FB, Green Bay (1st, 9) Don Hansen, LB, Minnesota (3rd, 42) Ron Acks, DE, Minnesota (4th, 57) Sam Price, HB, NY Giants (16th, 240) Gary Eickman, T, NY Giants (17th, 254) Kai Anderson, C, NY Giants (18th, 268) Dale Greco, DT, Minnesota (18th, 270) |
| 1967 | Bruce Sullivan, DB, Washington (10th, 250) |
| 1968 | Cyril Pinder, RB, Philadelphia (2nd, 39) John Wright, WR, Detroit (2nd, 53) Terry Miller, LB, Detroit (8th, 202) Bob Robertson, C, Houston (9th, 224) Ken Kmiec, DB, Dallas (9th, 241) |
| 1969 | Rich Johnson, RB, Houston (3rd, 78) Tony Pleviak, DE, Atlanta (5th, 127) Bob Naponic, QB, Houston (10th, 256) |
| 1970 | Doug Dieken, T, Cleveland (6th, 142) |
| 1973 | Mike Wells, QB, Minnesota (4th, 80) Tab Bennett, LB, San Diego (9th, 214) Willie Osley, DB, Kansas City (10th, 251) Larry Allen, LB, Green Bay (10th, 255) Larry McCarren, C, Green Bay (12th, 308) |
| 1974 | Gerry Sullivan, C-T, Cleveland (7th, 171) Octavus Morgan, LB, Pittsburgh (16th, 412) |
| 1975 | Revie Sorey, G, Chicago (5th, 110) Tom Hicks, LB, Chicago (6th, 151) Mark Peterson, DE, Kansas City (16th, 396) |
| 1976 | Lonnie Perrin, RB, Denver (5th, 139) Stu Levenick, T, Baltimore (9th, 258) Doug Kleber, T, Cleveland (10th, 271) Joe Smalzer, TE, Cleveland (14th, 381) |
| 1977 | Scott Studwell, LB, Minnesota (9th, 250) Dan Beaver, K, Minnesota (10th, 278) |
| 1978 | Rich Grimmett, T, Seattle (9th, 231) |
| 1979 | Darwin Tucker, DB, LA Rams (4th, 99) John Sullivan, LB, Chicago (6th, 147) Bruce Thornton, DT, Dallas (8th, 219) |
| 1980 | Lawrence McCullough, WR, Washington (9th, 241) |
| 1981 | John Gillen, LB, St. Louis (5th, 116) Mike Sherrod, TE, St. Louis (11th, 281) |
| 1982 | Dave Wilson, QB, New Orleans (1st in 1981 supplemental draft) Jack Squirek, LB, Oakland (2nd, 35) Ron Ferrari, LB, San Francisco (7th, 195) Kelvin Atkins, LB, Tampa Bay (8th, 212) |
| 1983 | Tony Eason, QB, New England (1st, 15) Mike Bass, K, New England (6th, 155) Mike Martin, WR, Cincinnati (8th, 221) Adam Lingner, C, Kansas City (9th, 231) Oliver Williams, WR, Chicago (12th, 313) |
| 1984 | Mitchell Brookins, WR, Buffalo (4th, 95) Dwight Beverly, RB, Indianapolis (6th, 147) Don Thorp, DT, New Orleans (6th, 156) Ed Brady, LB, LA Rams (8th, 215) Mike Johnson, DE, Houston (9th, 227) Bob Stowe, T, Indianapolis (11th, 290) Mark Butkus, DT, Chicago (11th, 298) Moe Bias, LB, LA Rams (12th, 328) Mike Weingrad, LB, Miami (12th, 333) |
| 1985 | Mike Heaven, DB, Tampa Bay (4th, 92) Chris Babyar, G, Buffalo (10th, 253) John Ayres, DB, Atlanta (11th, 284) |
| 1986 | Jack Trudeau, QB, Indianapolis (2nd, 47) David Williams, WR, Chicago (3rd, 82) Craig Swoope, DB, Tampa Bay (4th, 83) Jim Juriga, T, Denver (4th, 104) Thomas Rooks, RB, Minnesota (6th, 147) Chris White, K, Indianapolis (7th, 172) Cap Boso, TE, Pittsburgh (8th, 207) Bob Sebring, LB, Houston (9th, 225) Guy Teafatiller, DT, Buffalo (10th, 251) |
| 1987 | Mark Dennis, OT, Miami (8th, 212) Jerry Reese, TE, Atlanta (10th, 264) |
| 1988 | Scott Davis, DE, LA Raiders (1st, 25) Mike Piel, DT, LA Rams (3rd, 82) Keith Taylor, DB, New Orleans (5th, 134) Darryl Usher, WR, New England (7th,181) Bobby Dawson, DB, Pittsburgh (11th,295) |
| 1989 | Keith Jones, RB, Atlanta (3rd, 62) |
| 1990 | Jeff George, QB, Indianapolis (1st, 1) Mike Bellamy, WR, Philadelphia (2nd, 50) |
| 1991 | Henry Jones, DB, Buffalo (1st, 26) Moe Gardner, NT, Atlanta (4th, 87) Darrick Brownlow, LB, Dallas (5th, 132) Mel Agee, DT, Indianapolis (6th, 152) Chris Green, DB, Miami (7th, 191) Howard Griffith, RB, Indianapolis (9th, 236) |
| 1992 | Elbert Turner, WR, Houston (7th, 189) Kameno Bell, RB, Miami (12th, 328) Tim Simpson, G, Cleveland (12th, 329) |
| 1993 | Brad Hopkins, T, Houston (1st, 13) |
| 1994 | Filmel Johnson, DB, Buffalo (7th, 221) |
| 1995 | Ken Dilger, TE, Indianapolis (2nd, 48) John Holecek, LB, Buffalo (5th, 144) Dana Howard, LB, Dallas (5th, 168) Scott Turner, DB, Washington (7th, 226) |
| 1996 | Kevin Hardy, LB, Jacksonville (1st, 2) Simeon Rice, LB, Arizona (1st, 3) Ken Blackman, OL, Cincinnati (3rd, 69) |
| 1997 | Dennis Stallings, LB, Houston (6th, 181) |
| 1998 | Robert Holcombe, RB, St. Louis (2nd, 37th) |
| 1999 | J.P. Machado, OL, N.Y. Jets (6th, 197) |
| 2000 | Neil Rackers, PK, Cincinnati (6th, 169) Danny Clark, LB, Jacksonville (7th, 245) |
| 2001 | Marques Sullivan, OT, Buffalo (5th, 144) Jameel Cook, FB, Tampa Bay (6th, 174) |
| 2002 | Kurt Kittner, QB, Atlanta (5th, 158) |
| 2003 | Eugene Wilson, CB, New England (2nd, 36) Brandon Lloyd, WR, San Francisco (4th, 124) David Diehl, G, NY Giants (5th, 160) Tony Pashos, OT, Baltimore (5th, 173) Walter Young, WR, Carolina (7th, 226) |
| 2004 | Sean Bubin, OL, Jacksonville (5th, 159) Christian Morton, CB, New England (7th, 233) |
| 2005 | Kelvin Hayden, CB, Indianapolis (2nd, 60) Duke Preston, OL, Buffalo (4th, 122) |
| 2007 | Alan Ball, DB, Dallas (7th, 237) |
| 2008 | Rashard Mendenhall, RB, Pittsburgh (1st, 23) |
| 2009 | Vontae Davis, DB, Miami (1st, 25) Xavier Fulton, OL, Tampa Bay (5th, 155) Will Davis, OLB, Arizona (6th, 204) |
| 2010 | Arrelious Benn, WR, Tampa Bay (2nd, 39) Jon Asamoah, OL, Kansas City (3rd, 68) Michael Hoomanawanui, TE, St. Louis (5th, 132) Josh Brent, DT, Dallas (7th round in 2010 supplemental draft) |
| 2011 | Corey Liuget, DT, San Diego (1st, 18) Mikel Leshoure, RB, Detroit (2nd, 57) Martez Wilson, LB, New Orleans (3rd, 72) Nate Bussey, LB, New Orleans (7th, 243) |
| 2012 | Whitney Mercilus, DE, Houston (1st, 26) A.J. Jenkins, WR, San Francisco (1st, 30) Jeff Allen, OT, Kansas City (2nd, 44) Tavon Wilson, CB, New England (2nd, 48) |
| 2013 | Hugh Thornton, OL, Houston (3rd, 86) Akeem Spence, DT, Tampa Bay (4th, 100) Terry Hawthorne, DB, Pittsburgh (5th, 150) Michael Buchanan, DE, New England (7th, 226) |
| 2016 | Jihad Ward, DE, Oakland (2nd, 44) Ted Karras, OG, New England (6th, 221) Clayton Fejedelem, S, Cincinnati (7th, 245) |
| 2017 | Dawuane Smoot, DE, Jacksonville (3rd, 68) |
| 2019 | Nick Allegretti, OL, Kansas City (7th, 216) |
| 2021 | Kendrick Green, OL, Pittsburgh (3rd, 87) |
2021 NFL Draft Dates, Times, and TV
- Round 1: Thursday, April 29 – 7 p.m. CT on ESPN, ABC & NFL Network
- Rounds 2-3: Friday, April 30 – 6 p.m. CT on ESPN, ABC & NFL Network
- Rounds 4-7: Saturday, May 1 – 11 a.m. CT on ESPN, ABC & NFL Network
Players Mentioned
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