After waiting until the very last pick of last year’s draft to have a player selected, UCLA saw improvement this year with its first draftee picked up in the third round of the 2020 NFL Draft.
UCLA tight end Devin Asiasi was selected by the New England Patriots with the 27th pick in the third round and the 91st pick overall of the 2020 NFL Draft on Friday.
Congratulations to @ASI2X, a third-round pick of the @Patriots!
He’s the first member of the 2020 UCLA NFL Draft Class presented by @TheCoffeeBean.#GoBruins | #NFLDraft pic.twitter.com/NoAoUDLEsD
— UCLA Football (@UCLAFootball) April 25, 2020
The Patriots traded up to obtain the 27th pick of the third round from the Raiders to select Asiasi. He joins UCLA football alumni defensive back Adarius Pickett, wide receiver Matthew Slater and offensive lineman Najee Toran on New England’s roster.
Asiasi is the first Bruin to be selected in the 2020 NFL Draft and the 10th Pac-12 player chosen as well. He is the Patriot’s fourth selection of this year’s draft after picking Lenoir-Rhyne safety Kyle Duggar with the No. 37 pick, Michigan linebacker Josh Uche with the No. 60 pick, and Alabama linebacker Anfernee Jennings with the No. 87 pick.
The 6-foot-3, 260-pound tight end is the highest-drafted UCLA tight end since Marcedes Lewis was selected by the Jacksonville Jaguars with the No. 28th overall pick in the 2006 NFL Draft. UCLA’s most recent player drafted into the NFL was also a tight end in Caleb Wilson with the Arizona Cardinals picking him with the last pick in last year’s draft.
Asiasi played two seasons with UCLA after sitting out his first year in Westwood due to transfer rules following his departure from Michigan, where he played his freshman year.
The Shoreview, Calif. native had his best collegiate season last fall. Starting in all 12 of UCLA’s games, Asiasi put up career highs in receptions (44) and receiving yards (641). He recorded his first 100-yard game with 141 yards at USC on Nov. 23 and finished second on the team with 53.42 yards per game.
In 2018, he led the Bruins with an average of 21.7 yards per reception.
Asiasi announced on New Years Day he would forgo his senior season with the Bruins and enter the NFL Draft. He concluded his UCLA career playing in 21 games with 50 receptions for 771 yards and five touchdowns.
With the 2020 draft continuing for rounds four through seven on Saturday, UCLA will be looking to see cornerback Darnay Holmes and running back Joshua Kelley also drafted.
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