BIRMINGHAM, Ala. – Samford wide receiver and kick returner Montrell Washington was selected by the Denver Broncos in the fifth round of the NFL Draft Saturday.
 
Washington was taken with the 162^nd overall pick. He became the eighth player in Samford history to be selected in the NFL Draft, and he is the first offensive player to be drafted in Samford history.
 
Washington is the first Samford player to be drafted since James Bradberry was taken by the Carolina Panthers in the second round of the 2016 NFL Draft. Jaquiski Tartt was drafted by the San Francisco 49ers in the second round of the 2015 event. Nick Williams was selected by the Pittsburgh Steelers in the seventh round of the 2013 Draft, and Corey White was drafted in the fifth round by the New Orleans Saints in the 2012 Draft.
 
Prior to Bradberry, Tartt, Williams and White, Cortland Finnegan was taken in the seventh round of the 2006 Draft by the Tennessee Titans. Gary Fleming was selected in the seventh round of the 1969 Draft by the Baltimore Colts, and Rex Keeling was taken in the 16^th round by the Houston Oilers in 1967.
 
Washington led the nation this season in all-purpose yards per game, with an average of 176.2 yards per contest. He also led the Southern Conference in scoring at 9.8 points per game and in punt return average at 17.4 yards per return. He ranked second in the league in receiving yards per game at 73.9 and third in the SoCon in receptions per game at 5.5. Washington caught 60 passes for 813 yards and nine touchdowns. He finished the season with 1,938 all-purpose yards.
 
For his career, Washington finished with 4,249 all-purpose yards. As a receiver, he caught 148 passes for 1,883 yards and 17 touchdowns. He returned 49 punts for an average of 16.4 yards per return and four touchdowns, and he returned 49 kickoffs for an average of 22.4 yards per return and one touchdown. He also rushed 101 times for 520 yards and eight touchdowns.
 
ALL-TIME SAMFORD NFL DRAFT PICKS

Rex Keeling	Houston Oilers, 1967	16th Round
Gary Fleming	Baltimore Colts, 1969	7th Round
Cortland Finnegan	Tennessee Titans, 2006	7th Round
Corey White	New Orleans Saints, 2012	5th Round
Nicholas Williams	Pittsburgh Steelers, 2013	7th Round
Jaquiski Tartt	San Francisco 49ers, 2015	2nd Round
James Bradberry	Carolina Panthers, 2016	2nd Round
Montrell Washington	Denver Broncos, 2022	5th Round

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