Offensive tackle Alex Lewis and fullback Andy Janovich were selected in the NFL Draft on Saturday afternoon, giving Nebraska four selections in the 2016 Draft. The two Husker offensive players joined a pair of Blackshirt defenders selected in the draft, as defensive tackles Maliek Collins and Vincent Valentine who were taken in the third round on Friday night.
Lewis was the first Husker taken on Saturday with the Baltimore Ravens using the No. 130 overall pick in the fourth round to select Lewis. The Arizona native started all 26 games at left tackle the past two seasons and his selection in the fourth round marks the second-highest pick by a Husker offensive lineman since 2002. Spencer Long’s selection in the third round of the 2014 NFL Draft marks the only time a Husker lineman has been selected higher than Lewis over the past 14 seasons. Lewis’ selection also gives Nebraska at least one offensive lineman selected in four of the past six NFL Drafts.
A team captain in 2015, Lewis was a second-team All-Big Ten choice by the league’s coaches and was a third-team choice by the members of the media. Lewis helped Nebraska rank among the Big Ten leaders in scoring offense, total offense and passing offense. Lewis began his career at Colorado before transferring to Nebraska. He joins his father, Bill, in taking the path from Nebraska to the National Football League. Bill Lewis was an All-America center for the Huskers before playing eight seasons in the NFL.
Janovich became Nebraska’s fourth pick of the 2016 NFL Draft when he was taken by defending Super Bowl Champion Denver Broncos with the first pick of the sixth round (No. 176 overall). The 6-1, 230-pound Janovich was the first fullback selected and just the 14th running back selected. Janovich is the first Nebraska fullback taken in the draft since Joel Makovicka was a fourth-round selection in 1999.
Janovich was a versatile player at Nebraska and could contribute on both offense and special teams in the NFL after walking on to the Husker program and earning a scholarship. He had a breakout senior season for Nebraska, bringing the fullback back into the forefront of the Husker offense. He continued to be a powerful lead blocker in 2015, while also showing his ability as a runner and pass catcher for one of the Big Ten’s top offenses. Janovich finished fourth on the team in rushing with 265 yards, while averaging 6.3 yards per carry. He rushed for three touchdowns and also caught two passes for 58 yards.He was one of Nebraska’s top special teams’ tacklers, leading the Huskers with 13 coverage tackles, including 11 solo stops. Janovich was an honorable-mention All-Big Ten choice by the league’s coaches, and was also the 2015 Nebraska Lifter of the Year.
Janovich and Lewis give the Huskers three straight years with at least two offensive players drafted. This is also the fourth straight year at least one Husker offensive skill position player was selected. Nebraska’s four overall selections is the most for the Huskers since NU also had four players selected in the 2012 NFL Draft.
Collins and Valentine continued a trend of success for Nebraska defensive linemen in the draft on Friday. The duo was the first pair of Husker defensive linemen to be taken in the top three rounds of the same draft since Grant Wistrom and Jason Peter were both selected in the first round of the 1998 Draft. Nebraska has now had 15 defensive linemen selected in the first four rounds of the NFL Draft since 1997. Nebraska has now had at least two defensive players taken in 10 of the past 14 drafts.
With four selections taken in the 2016 NFL Draft, Nebraska continued a nation-leading streak. Nebraska has had at least two players taken in 54 consecutive drafts, and is the only school in the nation to have at least two players taken each year of the Common Draft era, a streak that now spans 50 years dating back to 1967.
Several other Huskers are expected to agree to terms as NFL free agents in the coming days.