MEMPHIS, Tenn. — Three former Ole Miss Rebels got picked up on the final day of the NFL Draft, while three others signed undrafted free agent contracts and one picked up a Mini Camp invite.
Deantre Prince was the first Rebel to hear his name called as he was selected 153rd overall by the Jacksonville Jaguars in the fifth round, Cedric Johnson followed him in the sixth round, getting selected by the Cincinnati Bengals as the 214th overall pick and Daijahn Anthony 10 picks later also heard his name called by the Bengals.
The trios selections mark the fourth straight year Ole Miss have had players drafted and the third straight with at least three selections. Ole Miss now has 315 total NFL Draft picks, 15 of which have come in the Lane Kiffin era.
After the draft ended several former Rebels signed as undrafted free agents - DE Isaac Ukwu went to the Detroit Lions, LB Jeremiah Jean-Baptiste and CB Zamari Walton signed with the Los Angeles Chargers, while Dayton Wade is heading to the Baltimore Ravens.
Meanwhile QB Spencer Sanders was invited to a Mini Camp with the Kansas City Chiefs.
Deantre Prince - CB - 153rd, 5th Round - Jacksonville Jaguars
Prince is the highest selected Ole Miss defensive back in nearly a decade, the best since All-American corner Senquez Golson was picked by the Pittsburgh Steelers in the second round with the 56th overall selection.
In his career with the Rebels, Prince played in 51 games and started in 36, while tallying 145 total tackles (101 solo), 6.0 tackles for loss, one sack, six interceptions, 21 pass breakups and two forced fumbles. Prince was an NFL Combine invitee and played in the East-West Shrine Bowl following a senior campaign that saw him notch 5.0 tackles for loss, his lone career sack, five pass breakups and a pick as one of the top cover corners in the SEC.
“(Prince) can run, he can cover, he’s got instincts, there is a lot to like,” Jaguars general manager Trent Baalke said. “We had him higher on the board than obviously where he fell to us. Really like a lot of things about him, feel like he can come in here and compete.”
Cedric Johnson - DE - 214th, 6th Round - Cincinnati Bengals
In his career with the Rebels, Johnson played in 46 games with 29 starts, and he recorded 111 total tackles (56 solo), 22.0 tackles for loss, 19.0 sacks, 27 QB hurries, four pass breakups, two forced fumbles and two fumble recoveries. He ended his Rebel career ranked tied for fifth all-time in sacks in the Ole Miss record books.
Johnson was also a Combine invitee, where he caught the eyes of the Bengals coaching staff.
"He's an athletic, smart player who showed versatility up and down the line, but he's going to be a defensive end," said Bengals senior defensive assistant Mark Duffner. "Very accountable, very dependable. High recommendations from the coaching staff there. I was down on the floor with him (at the NFL scouting combine) and I liked his athleticism. He runs well. Conscientious, bright. He's got a lot of characteristics we're looking for."
Daijahn Anthony - DB - 224th, 7th Round - Cincinnati Bengals
Anthony was fourth on the team in tackles with 61 stops (28 solo), he led all Rebels with eight pass breakups and he was tied for the team lead with three interceptions. None of those eight pass breakups, though, were bigger than his PBU of eventual Heisman Trophy winner Jayden Daniels as time expired in Ole Miss’ 55-49 upset over No. 12 LSU on September 30.
“(Anthony’s) earned it,” said Cincinnati head coach Zac Taylor. “You go through how he ended up at Shepherd, you go though how he ended up at Liberty, you go through how he ended up at Ole Miss. I appreciate his story, and why he did all the things that he did to get to where he’s at today, and to have his name called on draft night I think is special for him.”
“We really liked him, thought it was a really good fit for him,” Taylor continued. “I do appreciate his story and the things you hear from him and the things he’s gone through to get to where he is today.”