Georgia's Nick Chubb heads the SEC's 10 second-round NFL draft selections

Former Georgia running back Nick Chubb was the 35th overall selection of the 2018 NFL draft, going to Cleveland with the third pick of Friday night's second round.
Former Georgia running back Nick Chubb was the 35th overall selection of the 2018 NFL draft, going to Cleveland with the third pick of Friday night's second round.

From "Dawg Nation" to the "Dawg Pound."

Former Georgia running back Nick Chubb, the second-leading rusher in Southeastern Conference football history, was selected by the Cleveland Browns three picks into Friday night's second round of the NFL draft at AT&T Stadium in Arlington, Texas. Cleveland opened the second day of the event by taking Nevada guard Austin Corbett, and after the New York Giants selected UTEP guard Will Hernandez, the Browns landed Chubb with the 35th overall pick.

The 5-foot-11, 227-pound Chubb rushed for 4,769 yards and 44 touchdowns in his four-year career, averaging 6.3 yards per carry.

"He exemplifies what we're trying to build here in Cleveland," Browns vice president of operations Alonzo Highsmith said Friday night in a news conference. "I have no questions about the guy. Just give him the ball."

Chubb had a 47-yard touchdown run in his college debut against Clemson in 2014, and he rushed for 1,547 yards as a freshman, when junior starter Todd Gurley endured a four-game NCAA suspension and the tore an ACL in a win over Auburn. After rushing for 745 yards through the first five contests of the 2015 season to compile a streak of 13 consecutive 100-yard games, Chubb tore multiple knee ligaments on his first carry at Tennessee.

The former Cedartown (Ga.) High School standout returned to rush for 1,130 yards in 2016 and another 1,345 this past season, when he and Sony Michel surpassed 1,000 yards. Michel was the 31st pick in Friday's opening round, going to the New England Patriots.

When Chubb was informed of the selection, Browns offensive coordinator Todd Haley told him, "You had a heck of a college career, and now it's time to take the next step. I like guys like you who can score from anywhere on the field. You're right up my alley."

Chubb was the first of 10 SEC players selected in the second round and the first of three league tailbacks. Auburn's Kerryon Johnson, who rushed for 1,391 yards last season and was the SEC offensive player of the year, was the 11th pick of the second round and went 43rd overall to the Detroit Lions.

Johnson spearheaded Auburn to a No. 2 ranking in the playoff standings after the regular season, rushing for 167 yards in a 40-17 win over Georgia and 104 in a 26-14 triumph over Alabama. He suffered shoulder and rib injuries in the second half against the Crimson Tide and was ineffective in the rematch against Georgia in the SEC title game.

"I think the SEC is the closest league to the NFL that's not the NFL," Johnson said Friday night on a conference call. "To the competition and speed of the game, it is as close as you're going to get to the NFL. Hopefully that helps with the learning curve and helps me succeed at the next level."

LSU's Derrius Guice, who attended Thursday night's opening round only to go undrafted, had his long wait end when the Washington Redskins selected him with the 27th pick of the second round and 59th overall. Guice claimed after the February draft combine that he was asked by NFL teams about his sexual preference and whether his mom had been a prostitute.

The NFL announced this week that an investigation revealed there was no evidence Guice had been asked such questions.

"He's a first-round talent," draft analyst Mike Mayock said Friday night on the NFL Network. "He had several issues getting to different buildings and meeting with teams. He missed some flights.

"They didn't like his attitude."

The Redskins have taken a running back in eight consecutive drafts.

Other SEC players selected in the second round were Auburn guard Braden Smith (Indianapolis), Ole Miss defensive end Breeland Speaks (Kansas City), Texas A&M receiver Christian Kirk (Arizona), LSU cornerback Donte Jackson (Carolina), Florida cornerback Duke Dawson (New England), LSU receiver D.J. Chark (Jacksonville) and Auburn cornerback Carlton Davis (Tampa Bay).

Through two rounds, the SEC had 20 players selected, with the ACC next with 10.

The first SEC player selected in Friday night's third round was Georgia outside linebacker Lorenzo Carter, who went to the New York Giants as the 66th overall pick. Carter became the first Bulldog taken by the Giants since kicker Todd Peterson went in the seventh round of the 1993 draft.

"We tried to trade up for Lorenzo Carter," Giants general manager Dave Gettleman said in a news conference. "Thank God we didn't have to."

Getting picked in the second half of the third round were Tennessee defensive back Rashaan Gaulden, who went 85th overall to Carolina, and LSU defensive end Arden Key, who went 87th to the Oakland Raiders. Key once was considered a top-10 pick but sat out last spring for personal reasons and battled injuries last season.

The 6-1, 197-pound Gaulden tallied 130 tackles and 9.5 tackles for loss during his last two seasons with the Volunteers.

"I can play any position in the secondary," Gaulden said on a conference call, "but the Panthers want me to play safety, and I will play it at a very high level."

Alabama had four players selected in the first round but didn't produce any in the second round. Crimson Tide safety Ronnie Harrison was chosen in the third round by Jacksonville as the 93rd overall selection.

Contact David Paschall at dpaschall@timesfreepress.com or 423-757-6524.

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