Trio of Tigers headed to the NFL

Memphis’s Gibson, Claybrooks, Woodard selected in 2020 draft

www.gotigersgo.com MEMPHIS, Tenn. — University of Memphis multiple-offensive threat

Antonio Gibson (below) was drafted in the third round of the 2020 NFL Draft Friday by the Washington Redskins. He was selected with the 66th overall pick.

Gibson, the 2019 American Athletic Conference Special Teams Player of the Year and an all-conference wide receiver, is the first Tiger selected in this year's draft. He is the fifth Tiger to be drafted by the Redskins (1983 – Richard Williams; 1975 – Carl Taylor; 1970 – Danny Pierce, 1954 – Will Renfro).

A two-year letter-winner for the Tigers after two seasons at East Central (Miss.) Community College, Gibson appeared in all 28 games at Memphis with 11 starts. He caught 44 passes for 834 yards and 10 TDs, including 38 catches for 735 yards and eight TDs in 2019 while helping Memphis to an AAC Championship and a Goodyear Cotton Bowl appearance.

After playing behind 2019 NFL draftees Darrell Henderson and Tony Pollard, Gibson spent some time at running back in his senior campaign, finishing with 33 rushes for 369 yards and four touchdowns. He also took over at kickoff return following the graduation of Pollard, who shared the NCAA career KOR touchdown record (7) before being drafted by the Cowboys in 2019. Gibson finished with 24 kickoff returns for 647 yards and one touchdown. His play at wideout, running back and kickoff return helped Gibson tally 1,749 all-purpose yards in 2019 as a senior, a total that ranks fifth in Memphis history.

He was named the Walter Camp National Offensive Player of the Week on Nov. 4 after recording 368 allpurpose yards against thenundefeated SMU. In that game, nationally-televised after Memphis hosted ESPN's GameDay that morning, Gibson scored three touchdowns (one rushing, one receiving and one kickoff return TD).

In the AAC championship game, Gibson finished with 234 all-purpose yards and two touchdowns, including a game-winning, six-yard reception with 1:14 remaining. He was named the AAC Championship MVP for his efforts and helped Memphis earn its first-ever New Year's Six bowl berth.

In the Cotton Bowl, Gibson finished with 117 all-purpose yards. He completed his collegiate career with an invitation to the Senior Bowl, where he competed as a running back. This marks the seventh-straight season Memphis football has had a player drafted.

Additionally, Defensive back Chris Claybrooks (above) (Nashville, Tenn./McGavock HS/Fort Scott CC/Cohoma CC) was selected in the seventh round of 2020 NFL Draft Saturday by the Jacksonville Jaguars with the 223rd overall pick. He is the second Tiger drafted this season, following Antonio Gibson's third round selection Friday by the Washington Redskins.

Claybrooks came to Memphis and transitioned from offense to defense. In his first year at Memphis, Claybrooks appeared in 12 games, largely on special teams, recording his first career pick-six touchdown in the Birmingham Bowl against Wake Forest.

As a senior, Claybrooks missed the first five games of the season due to a foot injury, but finished the sea-

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son tied for 10th in total tackles (42). He also added two PBU, two quarterback hurries, one interception, one forced fumble and one sack. He was one of three Tigers to return a kickoff for a touchdown, taking one back in the regular-season finale, a game Memphis needed to win to earn a spot in the AAC Championship game.

In that championship game, he had a hand in both Bearcat turnovers. He forced a fumble inside the Memphis 25-yard line, ending a Bearcat scoring threat. Later, he intercepted a Desmond Ritter pass on Cincinnati's first play after the Tigers had cut the Cincinnati lead to 21-20.

He is the first Tiger to be drafted by the Jacksonville Jaguars and his selection gives Memphis multiple draftees for a third straight season.

(above) was drafted by the New England Patriots in the seventh round of the 2020 NFL Draft, Saturday, with the 230th overall pick. He becomes the first Memphis offensive lineman to be drafted since Wade Smith was selected by the Miami Dolphins in the third round of the 2003 draft.

Woodard appeared in every game during his career at Memphis. After playing in, but not starting, the first two games of his true freshman season, he started 52 consecutive games, including three AAC Championship games and four bowl games, ending with Memphis' Goodyear Cotton Bowl in 2019.

A native of Chandler, Arizona, Woodard was a CoSIDA Academic All-District honoree as a senior and was a semifinalist for the National Football Foundation's Campbell Trophy. He was also a finalist for the 2019 Senior CLASS Award.

As a freshman, Woodard appeared in all 13 games and was named a 247Sports.com True Freshman All-America honoree. As a sophomore, Woodard again appeared in all 13 games, playing at left guard. He moved to right guard as a junior, earning all-conference honors.

He moved to center in 2019, anchoring a Tiger offense that rushed for 2,614 yards (186.7/game) and passed for 4,177 yards (298.4/game).

With Woodard in the trenches, Memphis' offenses have been some of the best in program history.

The four teams are all in the top five in school history and amassed more than 27,000 yards. He has blocked for multiple All-Americans in his time at Memphis, including Darrell Henderson (Los Angeles Rams) in 2018, Anthony Miller (Chicago Bears) in 2017 and FWAA Freshman of the Year Kenneth Gainwell in 2019.

Woodard is the third Tiger to be drafted by the Patriots, following placekicker

(2006, 4thround) and defensive back Judson Flint (1979, 7th round).

His selection gives Memphis multiple draftees for a third straight season and marks the first time since 2001 that Memphis has had three players drafted (DB Idrees Bashir, DB Michael Stone, NT Marcus