Davion Taylor’s late bloom into third-round pick highlights locals selected in 2020 NFL draft

Davion Taylor’s unlikely ascent to the NFL as a third-round pick, where the Eagles took him at No. 103 overall on Friday night, highlighted the contingent of local high school and college players selected in the final five rounds of the 2020 draft.

Taylor, a two-year starter at outside linebacker for CU, did not play high school football due to his religious beliefs, as his family is Seventh Day Adventists.

But the abnormality of not playing high school ball in Magnolia, Miss., did not deter his football goals. Taylor tried out for the team at Coahoma Community College (Clarksdale, Miss.), and used his performance there to get a scholarship to CU. All along, he remained insatiable.

“When I went into JUCO, I wanted to learn,” Taylor said. “I came in there, I was watching (film), I had the coaches to teach me. I would ask so many questions after practice. If I was doing something wrong, I wanted to make sure I get it right. That’s the mentality I had the whole four years… I just had this itch to keep on learning about the game.”

At CU, Taylor played in 23 games with 19 starts, accumulating 136 tackles and 20 tackles for loss. He was honorable mention All-Pac-12, and his 4.39-second time in the 40-yard dash at CU’s pro day is evidence of the speed and closing ability that scouts liked in the All-Pac-12 track athlete (100-meter dash).

He acknowledged his game still has strides to make.

“The big part is just being more and more physical, taking on blocks, shedding blocks and just making big plays,” Taylor said.

At 6-foot and 228 pounds, Taylor projects as a versatile safety/linebacker in the NFL.

Dalton Keene

The former Chatfield star was selected in the third round at No. 101 overall by the Patriots on Friday night, making him the third Chargers player to be drafted. Keene is a 6-foot-4, 251-pound tight end who had 21 receptions for 240 yards and five touchdowns as a junior at Virginia Tech. The 21-year-old’s versatility was no doubt attractive to GM/coach Bill Belichick.

“That’s why I’m so excited that I got picked up by the Patriots because I think they do so many different things with their tight ends and are really creative there,” Keene said. “I couldn’t be happier right now with where I ended up.”

Keene played linebacker, quarterback, H-back and tailback for the Chargers from 2013-16, leading Chatfield to the Class 4A semifinals as a senior. He emerged as an offensive swiss-army knife in three seasons for the Hokies, too, playing H-back, out wide and in the backfield in addition to tight end. He said he aspires to mold his game after San Francisco’s All-Pro tight end George Kittle.

“He’s a super versatile tight end and they do a lot of different things there (with him),” Keene said. “That’s what I pride myself on doing, being a versatile tight end and being able to do a lot of different things – playing from the slot, or playing fullback or playing traditional tight end.”

New England took UCLA tight end Devin Asiasi at No. 91 overall just before Keene. The duo are the highest-drafted tight ends by the Patriots since they selected Rob Gronkowski in the second round in 2010.

“I was a little kid and watching him on TV, so it’s just crazy that I’m in his shoes right now,” Keene said. “I’m privileged.”

Logan Wilson

The Bengals took Wilson in the third round at No. 65 overall. The inside linebacker is one of two Wyoming players to be named captain three times. The 6-foot-2, 250-pound Casper native was a linchpin of the school’s defense the past four years. An effective block shedder, Wilson figures to immediately compete for a spot in Cincinnati. He had 253 tackles, and 35 tackles for loss, in 52 games.

Cassh Maluia

The Patriots took the Wyoming inside linebacker in the sixth round at No. 204 overall. Maluia, a 6-foot, 248-pound native of Compton, Calif., had 101 solo tackles and 16.5 tackles for loss in 50 games for the Cowboys.

Arlington Hambright

CU’s 6-foot-5, 300-pound offensive lineman was selected in the seventh round at No. 226 overall by the Bears. Versatile and athletic, Hambright can play inside or outside on the line, and started all 11 games for the Buffs as a graduate transfer in 2019. The Ypsilanti, Mich., native previously played at Oklahoma State and Garden City (Kansas) Community College.

Laviska Shenault

CU’s star wideout was drafted in the second round by Jacksonville at No. 42 overall. One of the more explosive Colorado players of recent memory, Shenault recorded a first down or a touchdown on 101 of his 191 touches at CU. He became the first CU player taken before No. 45 overall since 2011, when ex-Buffs Nate Solder and Jimmy Smith were both selected in the first round.

Steven Montez

The CU quarterback did not get selected, but signed as an undrafted free agent with the Redskins. Wideout Tony Brown signed with Cleveland.