CINCINNATI — The New York Giants selected former University of Cincinnati linebacker Darrian Beavers Saturday afternoon with the 182nd overall pick in the sixth round of the NFL Draft.
The 2017 Colerain High School graduate was a Dick Butkus Award finalist at UC and a first-team All-American Athletic Conference selection who proved to be one of the nation's top linebackers during his senior season.
“I’m very excited for Darrian and his family," UC football coach Luke Fickell said in a statement. "The Giants are getting a versatile guy who can cover, rush the passer and stop the run. He entered college as a safety, and he’s grown so much as a linebacker over the past couple of years."
Beavers was selected for the Reese's Senior Bowl and finished fifth in the AAC with 102 tackles and 11.5 tackles for loss. He added 4.5 sacks, an interception, two pass breakups, two fumbles forced and two more recoveries.
"He was truly instrumental to our success the last few seasons," Fickell said. "I think he’s a guy who can become a really good NFL linebacker and have the opportunity to play for a long time.”
Beavers, who played wide receiver and safety at Colerain, played his third season at UC this past year after sending two years at the University of Connecticut.
He has earned accolades from the coaching staff for his production and versatility on the Bearcats' defense.
Beavers is the eighth UC player selected in this year's NFL Draft.
The record for most Bearcats selected in a single draft was six in 2009 — a record that fell after running back Jerome Ford was drafted by the Cleveland Browns in the fifth round of the draft.
Beavers smiled as he watched the draft with his family on Saturday afternoon.
"To say that the Colerain family is proud of Darrian and his journey is an understatement," Colerain High School football coach Shawn Cutright said earlier this week. "His work ethic and dedication to his football voyage from Colerain to UConn and back to UC has grown each step of the way. I know that will continue when someone decides to give him a well-deserved shot in the NFL."
