FAYETTEVILLE, Ark. – Arkansas linebacker Martrell Spaight has been selected by the Washington Redskins with the fifth pick of the fifth round (141st overall) in the 2015 National Football League Draft.
Spaight is the 23rd Razorback linebacker to be selected in the NFL draft and the 13th player to be drafted to the Redskins.
The North Little Rock, Arkansas native is the sixth Razorback to be drafted under second-year head coach Bret Bielema. In his eight-year coaching career, Bielema has had three of his linebackers selected in the draft.
Spaight transferred to Arkansas for his junior campaign after spending two seasons at Coffeyville (Kan.) Community College. After recording just 22 tackles his junior season, Spaight completed his senior campaign as the Southeastern Conference leading tackler and a consensus first team All-SEC selection with 128 total stops on the year.
Spaight is the first Razorback to lead the SEC in tackles and was the first Arkansas linebacker to be named to the coaches’ first team All-SEC team since Sam Olajubutu in 2006. His 128 tackles were the most tackles for a Razorback since 2003 and was good for 13th on the program’s single season chart.
WHAT THEY ARE SAYING:
"Was a two-time JUCO All-American. Plays downhill and will attack his gap. Physical at line of scrimmage and had several tackles for losses. Sees past blockers and displays good ball awareness. Uses his hands to disengage from blockers and is a leverage linebacker. Aggressive in man coverage toward the boundaries." - NFL.com
"Shorter than ideal but possesses a compact, well-developed frame. Reacts quickly once he locates the football, showing impressive burst to slip through traffic and very good closing speed. Light on his feet and balanced, making Spaight an effective open-field tackler who can deliver a pop and force the ball out (two forced fumbles in 2014). Flexible, coordinated athlete who scrapes the edge cleanly. Developing recognition for coverage but reacts well to the ball when in position, showing good hand-eye coordination to slap it away as the receiver attempts to pull it in. Speed and aggression project well to the NFL, especially on special teams or as a chase linebacker. Raw athleticism worthy of developing." - CBSSports.com
| ARKANSAS LINEBACKERS DRAFT HISTORY | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| YR | RD | OVR | NAME | TEAM |
| 2015 | 5 | 141 | Martrell Spaight | Washington Redskins |
| 2005 | 5 | 159 | Jeb Huckeba | Seattle Seahawks |
| 2004 | 3 | 80 | Caleb Miller | Cincinnati Bengals |
| 2004 | 5 | 160 | Tony Bua | Miami Dolphins |
| 2001 | 2 | 55 | Quinton Caver | Philadelphia Eagles |
| 1997 | 5 | 160 | Anthony Hicks | Green Bay Packers |
| 1996 | 3 | 72 | Steve Conley | Pittsburgh Steelers |
| 1989 | 4 | 89 | Kerry Owens | Cincinnati Bengals |
| 1989 | 9 | 243 | LaSalle Harper | Chicago Bears |
| 1986 | 5 | 113 | Ravin Caldwell | Washington Redskins |
| 1986 | 5 | 127 | Nick Miller | Cleveland Browns |
| 1983 | 1 | 5 | Billy Ray Smith, Jr. | San Diego Chargers |
| 1982 | 12 | 322 | Jeff Goff | Washington Redskins |
| 1980 | 11 | 291 | Mike Massey | Oakland Raiders |
| 1977 | 5 | 132 | Dennis Winston | Pittsburgh Steelers |
| 1977 | 10 | 265 | Curtis Townsend | San Diego Chargers |
| 1974 | 6 | 140 | Danny Rhodes | Baltimore Colts |
| 1972 | 11 | 265 | Ronnie Jones | St. Louis Cardinals |
| 1971 | 16 | 395 | Bruce James | Philadelphia Eagles |
| 1970 | 17 | 423 | Cliff Powell | St. Louis Cardinals |
| 1965 | 9 | 121 | Ronnie Caveness | Los Angeles Rams |
| 1963 | 3 | 30 | Danny Brabham | St. Louis Cardinals |
| 1952 | 2 | 25 | Bob Griffin | Los Angeles Rams |
| BIELEMA COACHED LINEBACKERS DRAFT HISTORY | |||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| YR | RD | OVR | NAME | TEAM | COLLEGE |
| 2015 | 5 | 141 | Martrell Spaight | Washington Redskins | Arkansas |
| 2014 | 3 | 77 | Chris Borland | San Francisco 49ers | Wisconsin |
| 2009 | 3 | 76 | DeAndre Levy | Detroit Lions | Wisconsin |
| RAZORBACKS DRAFTED BY THE REDSKINS | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| YR | RD | OVR | NAME |
| 2015 | 6 | 182 | Tevin Mitchel |
| 2015 | 5 | 141 | Martrell Spaight |
| 2014 | 7 | 228 | Zach Hocker |
| 1986 | 5 | 113 | Ravin Caldwell |
| 1982 | 12 | 322 | Jeff Goff |
| 1964 | 20 | 270 | Gordon Quest |
| 1963 | 16 | 218 | Dave Adams |
| 1962 | 10 | 127 | John Childress |
| 1955 | 27 | 316 | A. J. Baker |
| 1951 | 26 | 221 | Buddy Brown |
| 1950 | 18 | 227 | Alvin Duke |
| 1949 | 17 | 168 | Ross Pritchard |
| 1947 | 15 | 128 | Earl Wheeler |
| 1940 | 16 | 148 | Bolo Perdue |